Posted on 04/05/2007 6:59:41 AM PDT by bagadonutz
A political action committee is auctioning off a 30GB iPod on eBay (EBAY) that it once tried to give to John Kerry. Information Policy Action Committee, which claims it's dedicated to protecting digital rights, started a campaign last year to send video iPods loaded with freely-distributed music and video to key U.S. senators like Kerry.
The group says Kerry sent the iPod back because of his political ties to the music and entertainment industry. Here's the irony: IPAC, which says it advocates for independent musicians, wants you to bid on a product made by Apple (AAPL), which has gotten cozy with the major labels thanks to its iTunes store.
Apple recently agreed to a deal to drop its FairPlay anti-piracy technology on music belonging to EMI's label. The move looked like it was supposed to satisfy unhappy Apple customers (like myself) who can't move protected music bought from iTunes onto MP3 players besides Apple's iPod. The way I see it, Apple set up its digital rights management system to appease the record labels who want protection for licensing sales. And now it's catering to EMI, whose executives say they approached Apple first about lifting its FairPlay technology.
All Apple really cares about is that you keep buying songs from the major labels on iTunes. It's not in the business of offering DRM-free music from small indie bands (for that, try eMusic). Which brings me back to the Kerry-rejected iPod auction. I'm not sure David Alpert, the guy who started IPAC, whose day job is as a product manager for Google, understands that. Anyway, if you're in the market for a 30GB video iPod, support freedom of expression, and somehow still manage to love everything Apple stands for, you have another week to bid.
From the ebay link: You are bidding on a 30gb Video iPod that: is white and in its original packaging has been preloaded with 1gb of public domain and Creative Commons-licensed images, videos and music (but has not otherwise been used) was sent to Massachussetts Senator/former presidential candidate John Kerry's campaign offices as part IPac's "Your Senator Needs an iPod" project is engraved with: "Listen to the People. www.IPaction.org"
If he never accepted it then it was never his.........
THat top bid might be from a RIAA lawyer hoping to find illegal copies of songs.
Current bid is $585.99!........A fool and his money..........
Nope. All Apple cares about is that people keep buying iPods. iTunes exists solely as a vehicle to sell iPods.
Song #1: Helen Ready - I Am Woman - Hear me Roar
They are les than $199 at walmart. WTF?
Song #2 - “I’m a Loser” by the Beatles
I wouldn’t give $1.99 for it, even if it had J’Fink’s monogram on it............
Especially if...!
Our daughter gave my wife an iPod Nano for Christmas. It’s been used once, just to see if it worked.........
My 13 yo has a video ipod, uses it a lot and really loves it. She earned half of the cost herself, so you know she takes very good care of it.
I bought my 10 yo twins cheaper mp3 players, and they love them too. I have no need for something like that though.
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