Nokia Exec To Developers: Embrace DRM & Digital Locks Because I Say So
from the very-convincing dept
In recent years, we’ve seen the entertainment industry suddenly embrace mobile as a platform, incorrectly believing that its more locked-down nature would mean that it wouldn’t face the same “threats” (which they should see as opportunities) of file sharing and open networks and services. However, as is always the way, more open systems are catching on and getting more usage, and more closed systems are having trouble getting traction. Rather than embracing that, however, it appears Nokia is pushing to hold back the tide.
Ben S writes in to highlight a rather unconvincing talk given by a Nokia VP trying to explain to open source developers why they need to embrace DRM, intellectual property, digital locks and subsidies in the mobile world. However, his reasoning basically amounts to “because I say so.”
“Why do we need closed vehicles? We do. Some of these things harm the industry but they’re here [as things stand].”
In other words, there’s no actual reason to use these things, other than that Nokia says you must — even though it knows such things harm the industry. Way to show leadership in the mobile industry. No wonder it seems like most innovation in the mobile space is coming from folks other than Nokia.
Filed Under: digital locks, drm, intellectual property, mobile, open source
Companies: nokia
Comments on “Nokia Exec To Developers: Embrace DRM & Digital Locks Because I Say So”
Nokia needs it
Artificial restrictions are the foundation of Nokia’s business model. Nokia needs it to survive. Well, either that, or they have to change their business model. But as I’ve repeatedly stated, a company can change everything *except* the foundation of their business model.
However, the world does not need Nokia to survive. So if the mobile phone business has to kiss Nokia goodbye in order to progress in the direction that its customers demand, then so be it. There is no need to drag Nokia kicking and screaming into the “I’m not going to let you fuck me anymore” future market. We can just instead choose to leave them behind.
Nokia?
Nokia? What do they make these days, padlocks?
Re: Nokia?
Paperweights.
There is no need to drag Nokia kicking and screaming into the…future market. We can just instead choose to leave them behind.
Don’t overlook that Nokia bought TrollTech (makers of the QT framework, which powers the Linux KDE desktop environment.) That apparently doesn’t keep them from being stupid, but a significant portion of Linux users would be inconvenienced if Nokia dies.
I thought Nokia was already dead :)
QT
That’s what forks are for.
And actually, it seems to me that Nokia is asking QT developers to embrace the “dark side”.
I suspect that they will tell Nokia to guess again.
Good timing
I was just looking at buying a new phone. Guess it won’t be a Nokia then…
Re: Good timing
My thoughts exactly. I have been needing a new phone for about a year now. I haven’t pulled the trigger yet because I find the whole market to be infuriating.
Why do I need to sign a two year agreement to buy a new phone? Why do I have to pay extra to change the ring tone (not that I care about that)? Why must the phone producers be in cohorts with the service providers?
It is all annoying enough that I have decided to hold off until the OpenMoko comes out (or possibly Android). If locked down hardware/software isn’t what you want – refuse to give ANY money to anything but fully open alternatives.
Re: Re: Good timing
Yep. I’m waiting to see what goes down after the Android release while my 2 years of indentured servitude with T-Slo (at least they’re relatively cheap, bless their hearts) winds down.
Re: Re: Good timing
Nokia does sell quite a number of attractive models unlocked from a service provider. I’ve been considering their phones for a while. Though, i think I’ll keep the one I have until it dies. I’m really just waiting until my contract is up and I can tell AT&T where to shove ‘it’ whenever they decide that providing a ‘service’ isn’t really what they’re about. Some would argue that has already happened, I suppose.
Why do we need Nokia?
We don’t.
Come back when you’re ready to play in the Open Source world by _its_ rules.
HAND.
Hey, I needs me some Nokia. Without them my world would be empty and dark. It is the very center of my universe and if I cannot have it I will be forced to suicide….um….what does Nokia do again?
Hmmmmmm, let me see…
Blackberry… iPhone.
Who’s Nokia again?
Re: Re:
They make the brick.
In Defense Of Nokia
I don’t work for Nokia, nor does my consulting firm have any contract with them.
I certainly don’t agree with the accusation that there is no innovation coming from Nokia. This particular blog post certainly points to a boneheaded move by the Finnish company, but that doesn’t represent everything this company does.
Nokia was a freakin rubber boot company 20 years ago, for crying out loud. No joke. You don’t think they had to innovate a little to get from there to where they are today?
Failed phones such as the N-Gage game platform show a willingness to innovate and try ideas, with an “it’s OK to fail” attitude. Phenomenal devices like the N95 push the envelope as to what a mobile device can do. Open platforms like Symbian show a future-looking view. Linux platforms on their tablet devices are VERY open. The mere existence of their tablet devices is innovative. The integration of WiMAX in their N810 is innovative. Their radical (if not good) ComesWithMusic strategy for putting music content on their phones is unprecedented. They have a forward-looking strategy that hardware will be commoditized, so Nokia has adopted a very aggressive push to be a service provider.
I’m sorry. While this company, like most others, isn’t perfect, it IS almost a poster child for what we want to see in the global economy: aggressive, competitive, innovative company that is willing to question the status quo, question itself, re-invent itself, and constantly innovate.
Yeah, I think the iPhone and Blackberry are awesome, too, but that is irrelevant to the fact that Nokia is a very positive force in the global telecom industry.
Maybe you all were thinking of the big US handset maker?
In the mobile world Nokia is the 800 pound gorilla
Last year alone they sold more than *300 million* phones. Apple expects to sell 8M units in 2008 while Nokia sells this number of phones in a *week*.
I’m not working for Nokia but you have to admire them and at least listen when they talk.
The mobile world is very different from the PC world – as Intel has found out in the last 8 years (recently sold its Cellular division to Marvell).
The closed model and the fact that operator are subsidizing subscribers is what gives you top notch technology and services for relatively very little cost.
To really understand the numbers you have to remember that just recently Verizon payed almost $10 *billion* for spectrum licenses in the US. Somebody has to pay for this 🙂
As for myself – I’m all for Android and open market. But it is way more complicated than you guys think.
In the mobile world Nokia is the 800 pound gorilla
Last year alone they sold more than *300 million* phones. Apple expects to sell 8M units in 2008 while Nokia sells this number of phones in a *week*.
I’m not working for Nokia but you have to admire them and at least listen when they talk.
The mobile world is very different from the PC world – as Intel has found out in the last 8 years (recently sold its Cellular division to Marvell).
The closed model and the fact that operator are subsidizing subscribers is what gives you top notch technology and services for relatively very little cost.
To really understand the numbers you have to remember that just recently Verizon payed almost $10 *billion* for spectrum licenses in the US. Somebody has to pay for this 🙂
As for myself – I’m all for Android and open market. But it is way more complicated than you guys think.