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Wal-Mart decides to maintain DRM servers

10 October 2008 16:31 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 6 comments

Last month we reported that Wal-Mart was shutting down its MP3 DRM servers, effectively killing off any music you have purchased from the retailer, unless you burn the music to CD and then rip it back DRM-free.

It appears the giant retailer has done an about face after public backlash and will keep the servers running at "the present time," according to Ravi Jariwala, a Walmart.com spokesman.

The decision follows that of both Yahoo and MSN who decided to shut down their servers and reversed the decision after public backlash.

"(Walmart.com) will continue to evaluate options and no decisions have been made at this point. In the meantime, we'll continue to offer MP3 downloads through our online music store and will assist with DRM issues for protected Windows Media Audio (WMA) files purchased from Walmart.com," added Jariwala.

Permalink to this article | Topics: MP3 & Digital Audio Online music services

Wal-Mart lowers MP3 prices (28 October 2008)

Good Old Games store goes public (26 October 2008)

Dell and UMG team up for DRM-free music (25 October 2008)

EU tells MP3 player owners to turn down the volume (13 October 2008)

Restraining order on RealDVD stays in place (8 October 2008)

RealDVD taken down temporarily (6 October 2008)

Norway to sue Apple in hopes of opening up FairPlay DRM (29 September 2008)

Wal-Mart shuts down DRM servers (27 September 2008)

EA gets class-action sued over Spore DRM (25 September 2008)

EA threatens forum users with ban for DRM talk (24 September 2008)

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Discuss this article!
JRude (Junior Member) 10 October 2008 16:57
So. DRM bytes the butts of big retailers. Think of the expense of carrying the servers. Serves them right. [ + quote]
ydkjman (Junior Member) 10 October 2008 18:05
It is nice they are taking care of the customer. They could also think about just offering the tracks that people have gotten with DRM in the DRM free format and then still go ahead and shut down the servers. What's going to cost more keeping the servers up on line or doing doing this other thing? [ + quote]
DVDBack23 (Staff Member) 10 October 2008 18:25
*Originally posted by ydkjman:* It is nice they are taking care of the customer. They could also think about just offering the tracks that people have gotten with DRM in the DRM free format and then still go ahead and shut down the servers. What's going to cost more keeping the servers up on line or doing doing this other thing? Smart idea. Offer the customers the tracks they already downloaded in drm-free MP3 and then shut down the servers in a few months. Would save them money and would make the customer happy as well. [ + quote]
defgod (Newbie) 10 October 2008 22:22
*Quote:* *Originally posted by ydkjman:* It is nice they are taking care of the customer. They could also think about just offering the tracks that people have gotten with DRM in the DRM free format and then still go ahead and shut down the servers. What's going to cost more keeping the servers up on line or doing doing this other thing? Smart idea. Offer the customers the tracks they already downloaded in drm-free MP3 and then shut down the servers in a few months. Would save them money and would make the customer happy as well. Well duh. But they are a company in the business of making money. I really don't seeing them doing this but hey there might actually be a company that takes its head out of its ass. And sorry for sounding like an ass myself. [ + quote]
ydkjman (Junior Member) 11 October 2008 2:34
*Originally posted by defgod:* Well duh. But they are a company in the business of making money. I really don't seeing them doing this but hey there might actually be a company that takes its head out of its ass. And sorry for sounding like an ass myself. Tell me how would keeping the servers open be making money? If I got to download all my songs again that I had before but this time for free without the DRM, it just might make me head back and buy more. Plus they are cheaper than other paying web sites. [ + quote]
miltex (Member) 11 October 2008 3:04
Just plain damage control When the chips are down, you can count on miltex ! [ + quote]