PRS unsure about iTunes Match

[roadbloc]

PRS for Music chief executive Robert Ashcroft has warned collection societies could experience an 80% drop in online licensing revenue if unlicensed material were to be admitted into a registered locker service and then legitimized.

http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storycode=1045712

In an interview with Music Week, Ashcroft said the industry was currently at a crossroads with regards to online licensing and explained it was essential the sector achieved fair value from cloud and streaming services if it wanted to grow.

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His comments follow industry-wide concerns over iTunes Match – a component of the iCloud service announced by Apple earlier this month – which some people believe could lead to a ‘laundering’ of grey market files: the service allows users to match the files in their collection – wherever they come from – against those in the iTunes catalogue and download ‘clean’ and fully licensed versions onto their Apple devices.

I 100% agree with the concerns and I don't think iTunes Match should be allowed. I was hoping Apple would have a competitor to Spotify or Amazon's cloud service at WWDC, not just give pirates the ability to have their illegitimate music even more easily accessible.

 

[mscriv]

I hear what you are saying, but what do you think can or should be done about it? We can't halt technical progress or services just because those products and services can be abused by people with ill intent. Are you going to hold Apple (or any other company with a similar product/service) accountable for the dishonest people who abuse it?