Amazon.com to Launch DRM-Free MP3 Music Download Store

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This may be slightly off topic and could probably go in the General Discussion forum, but considering that Damian wrote about this back in December 2006 and that EMI is "our label's parent company," I thought I'd throw it in here.

Press release below:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070516/20070516005337.html?.v=1

(Sorry, I tried to find an original 2006 Damian NY Times thread to put this in, but couldn't find it.)

yak63geese

YES! I don't have time to read the article at the moment, but I assume this ends the days of me burning CDs on my Mac to import the MP3s into Linux! [edit: for a lot of labels, anyway.] Because that is a PITA.

I remember Steve Jobs ranting about addressing this a few months ago, but people weren't sure if he was serious.

I love Linux but I also hand it to Apple--they do seem to give a crap now and then. Let's hope they follow suit.

Edit again - ambiguity

yak63geese

A little PSA:

Many of you might have heard by now, that EMI will have a DRM-free catalogue on iTunes. (Starting when, I don't know, but last I heard, they're working on converting everything and they want to release the whole catalogue at once).

Just a heads up--these DRM-free files will contain your full name and E-mail address. Files won't be encrypted, but original purchasers can nevertheless be traced. You wouldn't even have to share your files illegally for this to entail some risk. Your files could get stolen over an insecure wireless network, your compact digital music player could get stolen, someone could steal your computer, or you could buy them for a non-iTunes using friend and delete them from your hard drive--all honest enough, but your personal info's safety is then in the hands of your friend.

So... just be aware of risks.

dollarflame6

I read that in the paper this morning. But it's an extra 30 cents to get an mp3 without DRM on itunes...and 30 cents can really add up, so I'm probly not gonna use it.