Monday, April 11, 2005
Compatibility by legislative fiat?
Congress has begun looking into the notion of mandating file formats.
A U.S. House subcommittee, headed by Lamar Smith of Texas, is considering the idea of making music players illegal if they don't support specified file formats. Smith is quoted as saying that "the interoperability issue is of concern to me, since consumers who bought legal copies of music from Real could not play them on an iPod." While the article doesn't say which formats would be mandated, it appears from this quote that Real Networks' format is one which Smith would like to force on everyone.
Some members of Congress favored mandated warning labels -- in effect, compulsory self-denigration and free advertising for Real -- rather than mandating specific technology outright.
Apple didn't appear to grovel at Smith's feet, and he adopted a petulant tone, declaring it was a "mistake" for them not to show up.
- Apple is no-show at music compatibility hearing (Macworld UK)
- A law mandating music file compatibility? (internetnews.com)
