RIAA: Open up FairPlay to competitors

The RIAA doesn't want to drop DRM. It wants Apple to license FairPlay to competitors. In this Globe and Mail story, Mitch Bainwol, chief RIAA dude, says that licensing FairPlay to other manufacturers would allow iTunes purchases to be played on other devices. This move would, presumably, keep rampant piracy at bay by allowing more people to purchase at the iTunes store and play that music on their...Zune? Er, or something like that. The bottom line seems to be that the RIAA does not want to do away with digital rights restrictions and they still think we're all pirates. Arggggh, me hearties!

Thanks everyone who pointed out the RIAA response.