Tin ears?

Re “A lock on the market,” editorial, Feb. 8

Hear! Hear! on Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs’ open letter advocating removal of electronic locks from music sold online. The entertainment industry has always been penny-wise, pound-foolish in its greed ... I mean, its desire to protect artists’ royalties.

Sure, people copy and share music. As Jobs says, that’s not going to go away anytime soon. But sometimes the very act of sharing helps to create excitement over released music and, at the end of the day, benefits the industry as a whole. As an example, a friend of mine once turned me on to a vocalist. By that I mean that he copied (pirated) a CD for me. I was so excited over this singer that I went out and purchased all 14 of her CDs. Even Microsoft tacitly tilts in agreement with Jobs with its Zune player that allows time-limited sharing between players.

Jobs is right: Removing electronic locks will, in the long term, only help the music business. I hope the music industry will listen.

BRUCE BIGENHO

Santa Barbara

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I don’t want to make a crag out of a small burrowing animal’s home, but the simile is locking the barn door after the “horses” have gotten out. Or perhaps Jobs could engage in some serious cow-trading and not talk until the horses come home with the realization that online sales are a sacred horse to the record companies.

In defense of Jobs, perhaps the record companies are looking a gift bovine in the mouth.

BRUCE JOHNSON

Dana Point