Steve Jobs recently gave its opinion about DRM through a note entitled “Thoughts on Music” on Apple website.

Apple DRM applied on musics sold through the iTunes Store have been criticized for a long time and Steve Jobs defend himself saying that it was not their choice but a must-have for the record industry so that Apple could be allowed to sold songs.

Steve Jobs does not agree on actuals DRM system and argue that the best thing for interoperability will be to simply drop DRM completely. He says that DRM have failed to prevent music piracy and only frustrates legal owners.

I agree that lock-in DRM system are a failure and are not the good way to go. I think there is a better and simpler way: engage users responsibility by digitally signing musics.

Digital signature is not something knew and is already used with photos and PDF documents. When you buy a PDF book, your name is printed “inside” the document and is shown each time you read it. You can copy the book and give it to other people but your responsibility will be engaged because its your own copy. Photo copyright is guaranteed by watermarking. It’s a form of digital signature that appropriate software can read and identify the original owner. If you own a photo illegally or use it on a website, your responsibility can be engaged and you can be sued.

A digital signature on music can be applied when you buy it online — through the Store — or when you rip a CD from iTunes. All your music library will be marked with your personal fingerprint. If you give music to people or share it on a peer-to-peer network, your responsibility will be engaged.

This is a real contract between you and the music vendor but on the other hand you will be free to use the music on any device you want and the way you want. I think it’s more fair than any DRM system and acceptable for most users.