http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/33850.html

I sense an online strike and boycott in the works here against Ipod. Anyone else see it happening?

The RIAA doing their tricks as usual... Out of the 99 cents per song I wonder how much goes to the artists? Considering that 99.99% of the money goes to the RIAA they probably make none on the paysites like iTunes. I've already heard of musicians forming labor unions for better pay.

I'm not a bit suprised at this. I don't own and IPod and have no intentions of getting one. I'm suprised though that a business Like Apple would actually venture into a negitive cash flow business with only a vauge way to make up the loss. Steve Jobs must really enjoy being in bed with the RIAA

I think Steve never got the message that the RIAA takes all the money the customers pay. I'm not really surprised since they already made some shite business decisions in their history.

In a year or so this biz will be gone, how can you operate in the negatrive, silly butts.

There is one important point that I don't think was covered in this article. Sure, Apple doesn't make money on the iTunes on-line music store. But Apple most certainly DOES make money on iPods.

This is analoguos to the makers of computer printers. You can buy a good quality printer for a reasonable price, but then you pay big time for printer cartaridges.

Compulsory licensing was rather heavily adovcated in this article.

Before the anti-Apple trolls really start bashing, I have a confession to make:

1) I use Apple Computers and iTunes.

2) I own a 10GB iPod.

3) I rip all of the music (all non-RIAA) I buy into non-copy protected AAC format in iTunes (AAC does sound better!)

4) My iBook & iPod contain 100% RIAA free music - read - ZERO RIAA music!

5) I never have and never will buy a song or album through the iTunes music store for several reasons. The main reason being the DRM in the AAC files obtained from the music store. Plus 99.9% of the music obtained there are on RIAA supported labels.

6) And I agree with the Register article:

"Most of the money goes to the music companies," admitted Jobs.

"Steve Jobs' decision to give the RIAA a perpetual monopoly doesn't look so smart. As Jobs admitted, Apple is in a supplicant position in which it makes no money".

This just follows in line with the bad business decisions that Apple & Jobs have made throughout their brief history. So anti-Apple trolls can rest assured that Apple will destroy itself in the end. But hopefully not in the very near future.

Apple hardware is rock solid. Mac OS X 10.3 Panther is the finest OS ever released to humankind. And managing large music libraries (100GB plus) is simple with iTunes.

And Stryker111111 - Your loss if you never own an iPod! I don't think there will be a boycott of the iPod either. If you read the Register article, you will understand that Apple is losing money in the Music Store. Apple is primarily a Hardware company. iPod sales have never been better, because it is a superior portable music device. You can even use the iPod to listen to all the MP3 music you download from your favorite file sharing service on your wintel box.

Thank you for the article. I've been trying to get an answer regarding the cut that the RIAA takes out of each sale for the past few days.

Compulsory licensing wont work either if the RIAA continues to suck up every dime. Not to mention the actual artists are probably not seeing a dime from the RIAA. As far as steve goes I couldn't care less about apple. I do feel bad for all those people that are being lied to about where their money is going when they purchase itunes. Itunes has marketed itself on the premmis of offering an alternative to places like kazaa which will support the artists. but in fact they are not supporting any artist they are only contributing to their demise.

What a junk article. I have no clue how his plan will work. Long on rhetoric, short on facts.

jobs mostly writes it off as a business expense it a simple tax write off

Please get your facts straight, purfus ! You do not "purchase" iTunes - it is a free application download for Macintosh and Windows platforms. iTunes is a digital jukebox application that allows you to Rip, Mix and Burn your own CD-R's. It is the best tool I have found so far to organize large music libraries.

You confuse the application, "iTunes", with the recent appearance of the iTunes Music Store - I have never used the iTunes Music Store (and never will). Yet, for the past several years, I have used the application, "iTunes" for all other computer related music needs.

Don't knock it until you try it. Boycott the RIAA is not synomonous with Boycott Apple!

I have no problems with Apple..and the ipods. I will never use any of these music services though..like itunes music store..the so-called new-napster, or any others that come along. They can stuff them where the sun don't shine!

Steve Jobs in himself is a tyrant. I'm familiar with how he is and how money hungry he is by screwing his employees in the process first off. Secondly, If Steve Jobs is a technological messiah that he claims he is then he would obviously realize that technology is supposed to improve peoples lives, make products less expensive, and revolutionize everything that media has to offer, but instead he chose to side with the RIAA and screw over the music loving community by charging high prices for the music on I-tunes and while still letting the RIAA use it's same business model in order to screw consumers and artists at the same time. Shame on you Steve Jobs...

ipod and itunes music store are unrelated, and ipod is just an mp3 player, no money from the ipod goes to the riaa. you can buy one guilt free. boycott the music store, fine, but apples other business is selling hardware and is completely different from the music store. Justin, there's no evidence that apple screws it's employees. Jobs is a notorious hothead, but has mellowed over the years.

Makes me wonder if Jobs might be crazy... like a fox. Screwing over the little guy is one thing; a big corporatiion that has the finances to actually fight back is another.

Let 'em try to keep Steve Jobs out of the media. Just let 'em try.

thanks to the RIAA for further screwing the artists. I bet there will be little growth for the online-music industry in the future... it'll probably fall out of existance within 2 years. honestly, is there really much cost gone into "distributing" mp3s over the fucking internet? such bullshit.