The results are often ill-tempered and frequently amusing – an indication of just how fundamental the DRM (Digital Rights Management) debate is to the future of the music business.

The most explosive example came in a conference session that brought together two music industry representatives, MPAA executive VP Fritz Attaway and RIAA chairman Mitch Bainwol, with the president of the Consumer Electronics Association Gary Shapiro. The former pair are passionate advocates of DRM to protect their artists, the latter wants it removed to sell more devices and move the whole industry forward.

There was no love lost. Bainwol said. “Gary wants to morph fair use into a concept that justifies any consumer behaviour to the point where you eliminate the value of property. Kids grow up not understanding that music and movies are intellectual property. You teach disrespect for intellectual property. Gary takes a concept, morphs it, (and) makes us look like we’re evil.”

Shapiro said: ”I don’t make you look evil - your lawsuits against old people around the country make you look evil.”

RealNetworks’ CEO Rob Glaser also used the conference platform to urge a new approach to DRM. He wants to see the technology used to enable subscriptions (i.e. turn access off when the payment ceases), but remove it for downloads. “For purchases, move away from DRM,” he said.

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Sony Ericsson called for the same approach. Martin Blomkvist, the company’s head of content acquisition, told ME he believes there’s a case for watermarking but advocated removing DRM that restricts the swapping of legally purchased files between devices.