News for Sunday, 10 February 2008

Friday, those responsible for running Yahoo! met in crisis conference to discuss possible solutions to escape from the Microsoft takeover.
Many possibilities were explored, which included a search-related joint venture with Google, however this poses legal worries because of the anti-monopoly laws. However, Google itself is ready to offer help to Yahoo! to fend off this takeover that they have denounced and seem to fear. Google currently reigns supreme on the Web, however does fear Microsoft increasing its web presence, especially as it seeks a way to impose itself after so many failures. One of the ways that Google could help Yahoo!, would be to sell off licences to them for their search engines and publicity management that are very efficient.
What is certain, it is that Yahoo! will now lose at least a part of its independence that has been savagely defended up to this moment.

There has never been any doubt that while the iTunes Store is the largest provider of online music (legally), and therefore the accomplice of the majors (record labels), the online store is also their sworn enemy, who dares to tell them the value of their tracks and to refuse any compromise.
Regularly, and so far unsuccessfully, most of the majors have attempted to challenge Apple's hegemony, Sony launching its platform download connect, others by teaming up with partners ....
They seem to have found a solution by teaming up with one another to create Total Music download site owned by the largest players, Universal, Sony BMG, EMI and Warner.
Together, this block is almost impossible to compete against and raises the risk of violating antitrust law. For this reason the American justice department ruffled the waters by sending a letter to the majors asking them to clarify their intentions. They will certainly be obliged to provide Apple and other ways to compete on equal terms by separating the distribution entity, the site and those providing content.
If Apple is so far not afraid much, it is because of the struggle over DRM. The majors wanted DRM at any cost DRM, and Apple did not provide such, leaving the majors (in their view) in the lurch. The situation is more difficult since any songs sold are compatible with the iPod. The iPod repertoire is still available without difficulty.