The Logic Off Topic list

http://appleinsider.com/article.php?id=653


Apple terminates world-wide Emagic distributors

By Katie Marsal
Published: 02:00 PM EST

Opting to sell its music production software exclusively through its
own channels, Apple recently issued walking papers to several
international distributors.

Apple Computer this month began sending letters to its world-wide
Emagic software distributors, informing them that their services would
no longer be required.

Emagic--creator of the Logic music production software suite--was
purchased by Apple for a rumored $30 million in 2001, and has since
operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the computer company.

Frustrated by the most recent move, some former international Emagic
distributors are crying foul play. They claim that the Xskey--once
used to protect Logic applications from piracy--is now being abused by
Apple to solicit customer information to the exclusion of the
ex-distributors and dealers; the same people who previously made their
living selling and supporting the software.

"If this were to reach customers ears that their information can now
be used [by Apple] to dominate and control the music industry, I say
there should be a Law protecting [this] flow of information," one
former distributor said.

Dealers also fear that Apple may exploit some of the customer
information once provided innocently to Emagic through it's
Germany-based website. Armed with this data and the power to require
additional customer info through future releases of Logic, dealers
claim that Apple will soon be capable of dominating the software side
of the global music production industry.

According to Apple, Logic is used by over 200,000 musicians worldwide
and is the industry-leading audio production software for professional
musicians, audio engineers, producers and film composers.

Around the same time that Apple began dismissing world-wide Emagic
distributors, the company also registered for a trademark on the word
"ProBand." Some insiders have speculated that the company will
eventually re-brand the Logic product line under this new name.

>Frustrated by the most recent move, some former international Emagic
>distributors are crying foul play. They claim that the Xskey--once
>used to protect Logic applications from piracy--is now being abused by
>Apple to solicit customer information to the exclusion of the
>ex-distributors and dealers; the same people who previously made their
>living selling and supporting the software.
>
>"If this were to reach customers ears that their information can now
>be used [by Apple] to dominate and control the music industry, I say
>there should be a Law protecting [this] flow of information," one
>former distributor said.
>
>Dealers also fear that Apple may exploit some of the customer
>information once provided innocently to Emagic through it's
>Germany-based website. Armed with this data and the power to require
>additional customer info through future releases of Logic, dealers
>claim that Apple will soon be capable of dominating the software side
>of the global music production industry.

I can remember making a crack about the Axis of Evil 
when the buyout was announced but this stuff is hilarious. 

"Proband" (!)

Stevo's taste - who could fault it? 

Regards,
M