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Sony BMG Will Bail on DRM

Label becomes fourth and final industry giant to ditch copy protection

By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 4, 2008 1:20 PM CST
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(Newser) – Sony BMG will begin offering at least part of its music catalogue online without restrictive digital rights management mechanisms, Business Week reports. The decision comes after the other three major labels—Warner, EMI, and Universal—decided to ditch DRM in 2007, challenging Apple's 80% share of the legal music downloads market.

Like Warner's, Sony BMG’s titles will be sold through Amazon’s digital music store, and can be freely burned and copied by buyers. Sony BMG has already experimented with DRM-free music sales for low-selling artists. "A lot of these tests have led people to believe that maybe this works," said a Sony BMG exec.

Sony BMG has already experimented with DRM-free music in the past on a limited basis. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Sony BMG has already experimented with DRM-free music in the past on a limited basis. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)   (Associated Press)
Amazon's DRM-free music store is turning up the head against Apple's dominant iTunes Store.(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
Amazon's DRM-free music store is turning up the head against Apple's dominant iTunes Store.(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)   (Associated Press)
DRM-free music can be played back on any compatible MP3 device. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
DRM-free music can be played back on any compatible MP3 device. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)   (Associated Press)
Sony BMG would be the fourth and final major label to drop DRM. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Sony BMG would be the fourth and final major label to drop DRM. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)   (Associated Press)
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Ars Technica explores the possibility of Sony BMG's decision
Ars Technica

 
Apple • DRM free music • DRM • Amazon MP3 • music label • Sony BMG

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