According to the LA Times, Steve Jobs sent an e-mail to record executives yesterday with a link to an article about insecurities in Napster that would allow users to convert songs covered by their Napster subscription to permanent files. The Napster CEO responded by e-mailing record executives with links to software designed to defeat Apple's DRM solution. Folks, this is foolishishness. The "my-DRM-is-better-than-your-DRM" game is not good for consumers...and it's not good for technology companies either.

I'd much rather see Apple and Napster compete on price, depth of their respective music catalogues, and new services than on which can best withstand the legal fury of the RIAA.

Adam, don't forget that there are two aspects to copyright on musical recordings: the song itself and the performance. ASCAP covers the song (i.e., the notes on the page and the lyrics), but does not cover the recording.