Will Qtrax ever get off the ground?

[jjones]

For any of you that have been following this, two recent articles:

From today, feel free to download another 25 million songs - legally

Free, Legal P2P Service Qtrax Hits Snag After Major Labels Deny Contracts

Appears they do have EMI (including Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd)

Anyone used Qtrax? How's the software?

 

[SunnyD]

No - it has DRM.

 

[destrekor]

damn you Zune. Why aren't you Plays-For-Sure compatible?

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
No - it has DRM.

Well, in all fairness it has to have some kind of DRM or the labels could never be paid accordingly.

It seems like all they want to know is what's been downloaded and how many times it's been played. Unfortunately, past experiences show that is usually not the only information we can expect them to retrieve.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: jjones

Originally posted by: SunnyD
No - it has DRM.

Well, in all fairness it has to have some kind of DRM or the labels could never be paid accordingly.

It seems like all they want to know is what's been downloaded and how many times it's been played. Unfortunately, past experiences show that is usually not the only information we can expect them to retrieve.

That's why most major online distributors are pushing DRM-free offerings now right? :roll:

 

[Chronoshock]

The terms and conditions of the EULA are pretty restrictive. Also, its supported by ads, which given the thinking of the RIAA, involves sitting through 2 minutes of commercials for 3 minutes of poorly encoded music. Seems like its really only for people who don't know any better

 

[Atheus]

This is the best we're going to get, ladies - this or something very similar. At least it has all the right songs and all the right industry backing this time.

And BTW, your music *will* have DRM on it for the forseeable future, so you might as well get over it. Why? Because we've changed the model now and we can't go back. You so not own the music you buy - you own a licence to use that music in certain ways, just like software, and consequently there has to be some way of enforcing that licence. Just like product keys and activation on Windows. You wouldn't expect them to give away windows for free with no restrictions would you? Sure it should be cheaper, but free and unrestriced? It just wouldn't work. I mean, I'm all for open source software (and contribute to it), and maybe there will be an 'open music' movement one day, but for now this is it.

I predict this site will either be the biggest thing on the net or it will bomb spectacularly and lose millions upon millions of pounds in hilarious and unexpected ways...

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: Chronoshock
Also, its supported by ads, which given the thinking of the RIAA, involves sitting through 2 minutes of commercials for 3 minutes of poorly encoded music.

You don't really know that though do you - the ads could just as well be completely silent banners like in any number of apps.

Seems like its really only for people who don't know any better

And if you know 'better', what do you do? Download illegally? Or pay through the nose?

 

[FoBoT]

but i just buy used cd's from half.com and rip them at home
no DRM, no ads
none of that crap, Atheus

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
but i just buy used cd's from half.com and rip them at home
no DRM, no ads
none of that crap, Atheus

Thats all very well, but I notice the words 'buy' and 'CD' and I think - that's just not the way of the future...

 

[FoBoT]

But Warner Music said it had not authorised the use of its tracks by Qtrax - and later Universal Music Group and EMI followed suit, saying they did not have licensing deals with Qtrax and discussions were continuing.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/...ts+pull+out/article.do

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: Atheus
And BTW, your music *will* have DRM on it for the forseeable future, so you might as well get over it.

Really? They're about to go international, btw. There are plenty of other services with DRM-free music to varying degrees. Yahoo is getting ready to do a DRM-free service.

Why? Because we've changed the model now and we can't go back.

The model is still changing. This service, for better or worse, is yet another attempt to build a new business model for music.

I mean, I'm all for open source software (and contribute to it), and maybe there will be an 'open music' movement one day, but for now this is it.

There is such a movement, though it's not exactly shaking the foundations of the industry.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Aluvus

Originally posted by: Atheus
And BTW, your music *will* have DRM on it for the forseeable future, so you might as well get over it.

Really? They're about to go international, btw. There are plenty of other services with DRM-free music to varying degrees. Yahoo is getting ready to do a DRM-free service.

Why? Because we've changed the model now and we can't go back.

The model is still changing. This service, for better or worse, is yet another attempt to build a new business model for music.

I mean, I'm all for open source software (and contribute to it), and maybe there will be an 'open music' movement one day, but for now this is it.

There is such a movement, though it's not exactly shaking the foundations of the industry.

Thanks for saving me the trouble of linking them. DRM-free is the way of the future.

 

[Agentbolt]

You download MP3s, correct? How is it you can't play these on your Ipod?

 

[frostedflakes]

Why is this up for discussion? All four major labels (EMI included) have denied licensing their music to QTrax, so it seems pretty obvious the service isn't legit. They may still be negotiating, but at this point in time it's not legal.

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: frostedflakes
Why is this up for discussion? All four major labels (EMI included) have denied licensing their music to QTrax, so it seems pretty obvious the service isn't legit. They may still be negotiating, but at this point in time it's not legal.

They are in negotiation with the labels, but until the ink is on the paper nothing is for sure. Service could still die on the vine. Especially if the labels get pissed about the pre-announcement and pull out of negotiations.