It feels a bit obvious that Apple would want to include some sort of DRM on iPad books purchased through the iTunes store. The interesting bit is that it appears that publishers will have the option of choosing whether to use Apple’s FairPlay DRM technology or to keep their ebooks DRM-free. [Apple Insider]
Condensed explanation: Digital rights management is a corporate pain in the arse that stops you from doing whatever you want with music and movies in the name of fighting piracy. But there’s more to it.
Norway is ostensibly big on neutrality, even when it gets them invaded and pulverised, so not surprisingly it hates Apple’s FairPlay DRM, which only lets songs play on iPods. It even has a law requiring that consumers be able to use digital media with whatever device they choose, which FairPlay obviously pees all over. After a lovely chat with Apple in February, not much has changed, so gentle Norway is going to play war against Apple over FairPlay for the rest of hapless Europe.
