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Warner unhappy with DRM-free downloads

14 April 2007 18:19 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 4 comments

Warner Music Group is unhappy that the music download service, AnywhereCD, has been selling albums owned by the label without any included Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. AnywhereCD was launched by Michael Robertson, original founder of MP3.com. While the service does offer downloads in the MP3 format with no DRM, customers can only choose to buy full albums, unlike services like iTunes where individual tracks can be picked.

"Last year I decided it was time to revisit selling music in the MP3 format," Robertson wrote on his personal web site. "I reached out to many labels and all were polite and open to meetings. My message was to use the MP3 format to boost sales by offering a new buying option for online music fans." Album download prices range from $9.95 to about $19.95, higher than the deals offered by iTunes.

However, it is argued that the restriction-less MP3 files have benefits over rival services. On the same day that AnywhereCD launched, Warner demanded that its music not be sold DRM-free, saying the service was in "flagrant" violation with their agreement. "Accordingly, we have sent them a notice of termination and they are required to immediately remove all of our content from their site," the music label said in a statement.

EMI recently moved to sell music without DRM through iTunes.

Source:
Ars Technica

Permalink to this article

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

Pepsi and Amazon to give away DRM free music (1 December 2007)

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Discuss this article!
thebox (Junior Member) 15 April 2007 3:23
Warner can kiss my butt. Unhappy about DRM-Free Music. Cry me a river. They should be unhappy about the fact that people care about their freedom and willingness to pay for "ALMOST" any company's product as long as it is beneficial and not because the Entertainment Mafia says: "No no. Pirating music from others or even your own music is bad" [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 15 April 2007 9:06
Not really all DRM dose is make it more annoying buy music that and the price shcemes make buying digital distro music movies and games (20$ for a 5 year old game WTF?) you know if you want to wape the consumer just yell surprise sex....oy this is getting to annoying... [ + quote]
BUDDD (Newbie) 19 April 2007 8:14
Extortion and organised crime go hand in hand. The question is , Has organised crime taken over the music biz??? It would explain a lot of what's going on dont you think? [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 19 April 2007 8:22
Originally posted by BUDDD: Extortion and organised crime go hand in hand. The question is , Has organised crime taken over the music biz??? It would explain a lot of what's going on dont you think? well its more a circle Crime orgs start at the bottom and gain money threw extortion weaving around the circle but always ending at the bottom, corporations start at the top and can weave around the circle without havign to extortion but their comes a time when money/greed/power making them bottom heavy and more than happy to keep profit up on the backs of the consumer. [ + quote]