Free (permanent) downloads from the Public Library!?!

cafreemacafreema
edited December 2010 in General
The St. Paul Public Library says yes.

I am dumbfounded that Sony would okay this, but hopefully this shows they are at least interested in trying new things.

Craig

Comments

  • frogkopffrogkopf
    I saw that too. I'm wondering how the companies are not going to see that as cannibalizing sales if people get downloads that don't expire. So far most of the libraries with similar programs use DRM with license lengths similar to the length of a book check out cycle, so that no more than one user has access at a time.
  • cafreemacafreema
    I think it must stem from the Library paying a fee to the company that administers the downloads, and some of the fee getting passed on to Sony. Obviously it won't be anywhere close to $0.99 per track, but Sony may have actually realized that downloads shouldn't cost that much.

    As for the lack of DRM/license, maybe they figure if they give people 3 per month they'll be less likely to go out in search of illegal sources? That doesn't help for folks who already found those sources, but it's conceivable that some youngsters will be kept on the 'legal' path through these freebies.

    Craig
  • jonahpwlljonahpwll
    edited December 2010
    Here's another good article on it. It gives some additional numbers and conditions on the dealio...

    http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6723898.html

    It appears that it's up to the library system to determine what the limits are per patron.
  • thomnottomthomnottom
    So does that mean we have to start opening multiple library accounts, too? I'll have to wear disguises, make up a couple more kids...
  • jonahpwlljonahpwll
    So does that mean we have to start opening multiple library accounts, too? I'll have to wear disguises, make up a couple more kids...

    It'll make it easier to justify to the wife why we need to buy property in multiple states.
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