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Universal tries out DRM free downloads

10 August 2007 6:28 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 5 comments

Universal Music Group, the world's largest music label, has said it will temporarily allow the sale of thousands of its albums and tracks DRM-free.

Universal plans to make titles from artists like Amy Winehouse, the Black Eyed Peas, and 50 Cent available without DRM, starting later this month and running until January 2008.

They say their intention is to find out whether piracy via P2P networks increases as a result of removing the DRM. Files will be released with a watermark that identifies them, but not the purchaser of the song.

Earlier in the year, much smaller rival EMI began making its entire music catalog available in a DRM free format.

Source: The Register

Permalink to this article

IFPI annual report praises labels for being forced to ditch DRM (24 January 2008)

Viacom executive says DRM is the way of the future (2 October 2007)

Apple DRM attacked as anti-comptetitive in Florida lawsuit (7 September 2007)

UK iTunes store finally gets TV shows (28 August 2007)

Rolling Stones DRM free MP3s now available (22 August 2007)

Wal-Mart hopes to gain market share by losing DRM (21 August 2007)

iTunes rival launched by Viacom and RealNetworks (21 August 2007)

Audio Watermarking may be new alternative to DRM (15 August 2007)

Allofmp3 case thrown out of Russian court (15 August 2007)

John Lennon finally comes to iTunes (14 August 2007)

Universal to promote iTunes alternative (12 August 2007)

Universal snubs iTunes for DRM free downloads (11 August 2007)

EMI physical CD sales plummet (10 August 2007)

Vista gets a public challenge on its DRM schemes (10 August 2007)

Many UK music downloaders consider DRM a nuisance (7 August 2007)

EMI brings DRM-free catalogue to Canada (3 August 2007)

EMI joins up with Burger King for DRM-free promotion (26 July 2007)

eMusic and AT&T on verge of DRM-free mobile download service (25 July 2007)

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Discuss this article!
DVDdoug (Junior Member) 10 August 2007 9:26
Another small step in the right direction! I'm getting more optimistic every day. I knew if EMI was successul with their experiment, the others would have to follow. Let's hope this limited MG experiment encourages them to open-up their entire UMG catalog permanently! [ + quote]
AXT (Member) 10 August 2007 15:32
No DRM, $1 per song, and 320kbps compression (not 128kbps like itunes has on their DRMed songs) = perfect [ + quote]
webe123 (Inactive) 10 August 2007 21:52
*Originally posted by AXT:* No DRM, $1 per song, and 320kbps compression (not 128kbps like itunes has on their DRMed songs) = perfect A dollar a song may seem "perfect" to you, but to ME it is still HIGHWAY ROBBERY! Sorry, but until I see songs getting sensible about prices... I will understand why a lot of people turn to free. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 11 August 2007 0:20
hughjars (Inactive) 11 August 2007 5:43
Good for Universal.....but yes, $1/�0.50p a song is still too expensive. But at least it's a start (and with decent quality too). [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 17 August 2007 18:04
Two things need to occur before consumers start to purchase CD's again DRM needs to be left off the CD's and the price of the CD needs to drop as well. [ + quote]