<div class="gmail_quote">2010/12/25 Randolf Richardson <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:randolf@inter-corporate.com">randolf@inter-corporate.com</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
Hello. I was just discussing an idea in <a href="http://irc.freenode.net#videolan" target="_blank">irc.freenode.net#videolan</a><br>
with users j-b and pk__ and it was suggested that I eMail my idea<br>
here.<br>
<br>
The idea is to set up a store called the VLC Store that competes<br>
with applications like iTunes, but only starting out with free (e.g.,<br>
Public Domain, certain Creative Commons, etc.) content.<br>
<br>
VLC Player could be updated to include a store option (I would<br>
recommend that the user be prompted on first use to choose the way<br>
VLC currently works {the default} or if they'd like to have it<br>
default to the store since I think choice is very important).<br>
<br>
I'm willing to start out providing some server hardware and<br>
database, but my concern is with bandwidth costs -- I have to make<br>
sure that I can afford this, and I would need to talk to my upstream<br>
providers as well. We do have IPv4 and IPv6 addresses (native, not<br>
tunnelled), which is also important for this type of project.<br>
<br>
The first stage would be to provide all the free content. There is<br>
Public Domain music, the universities provide a lot of audiobook-type<br>
content (see iTunes for some examples; Berkeley is one of the better-<br>
organized ones so, if curious, I suggest starting there if you're not<br>
familiar with this feature), and there are probably others as well.<br>
<br>
The second stage I'm hoping would come naturally with new artists<br>
who want some publicity and are willing to share a few of their<br>
masterpieces for free (obviously in the hopes that people will like<br>
what they hear and buy their albums). Maybe some famous ones will be<br>
willing to release a few free ones this way as well (which would be<br>
wonderful because it could help make VLC even more popular).<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Trent Reznor, Counting Crows and other bands/acts who have abandoned their record companies might be a good starting point for this. </div>
<div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<br>
The third stage would be to actually sell music as well, after<br>
making arrangements with music vendors. A percentage and/or minimum<br>
portion of the proceeds of these sales to be contributed to help fund<br>
the VLC project -- as long as the vendors know what this amount is up<br>
front, this should be fine. Obviously they'll want some reports for<br>
the purposes of accountability, and I wouldn't be surprised if a big<br>
organization like PayPal would be interested in helping with the<br>
online payment processing side of things.<br>
<br>
One challenge with vendors will obviously be copy protection; since<br>
copy protection is always circumvented anyway, I think there's no<br>
point in going there because any focus on this would be a wasted<br>
effort -- in the end, the number of vendors interested in selling<br>
through the VLC Store would likely be somewhat limited due to this,<br>
but I think that's okay because it will also reveal to the masses<br>
which vendors are willing to trust VLC Store users.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Copy protection (DRM) is nowadays only require for video content. You can setup DRM-free music store (MP3 files) quite easily if you just pay deposit money to get the licenses and other things rolling (but it isn't cheap). </div>
<div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<br>
I own the <a href="http://VLCSTORE.COM" target="_blank">VLCSTORE.COM</a> (and other) internet domain names, and would<br>
like to see a web site to go with it where people can access the<br>
store information. Perhaps the function of the VLC Store in the VLC<br>
Player could just display this web page, or it could actually have a<br>
full-fledged GUI that simply takes current information from this web<br>
site.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>With QT interface webkit can be used to implement that quite easily. </div><div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<br>
Any thoughts or ideas? Better or different approaches? I realize<br>
that this isn't a new concept, but I think it's one that the VLC<br>
Player may be well-suited for.<br>
<br>
Thanks in advance.<br>
<br>
Randolf Richardson - <a href="mailto:randolf@inter-corporate.com">randolf@inter-corporate.com</a><br>
Inter-Corporate Computer & Network Services, Inc.<br>
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<br>
<a href="http://www.inter-corporate.com" target="_blank">http://www.inter-corporate.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
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