Apple to sell copy protection-free songs

[Nodz86]

Apple to sell copy protection-free songs

 

Apple has agreed to start selling digital songs without copy protection software from its iTunes store along with over-the-air download songs for its popular iPhone, according to people familiar with its plans. Skip related content

The maker of the iPod is also set to announce a deal to roll out variable pricing on digital songs at the iTunes Music Store with songs priced between 79 cents (53 pence) and $1.29.

Apple is expected to announce the changes at the Macworld Expo trade show in San Francisco later on Tuesday.

Copy protection software, also known as digital rights management or DRM, has proved a controversial topic with music fans and record labels alike.

DRM was designed to prevent fans from illegally sharing digital downloads on file-sharing services. But it also prevented many fans from moving their own songs between devices and became increasingly unpopular.

Apple's founder, Steve Jobs, publicly called on major record labels to drop DRM in February 2007.

In exchange, labels have been asking that iTunes agree to sell songs at variable prices. Currently, iTunes sells all individual songs at 99 cents regardless of their popularity or date of release, unlike most other retail outlets.

Apple is also expected to announce details to allow iPhone 3G and iPod Touch Wifi users to buy songs while on the go, over the air through its popular App Store.

(Reporting by Yinka Adegoke, editing by Matthew Lewis)

 

From BTYahoo news

[The Queen]

Great news! :cool:

 

This is the only problem I have had with buying songs from Itunes. Usually when I want to use the song in a game on my PC like GTA IV or Test Drive Unlimited and the DRM prevents it from being able to be played. Thats why I moved on to other places but shouldn't be a problem now. :D

[CarMadMike]

Thats pretty good news! :)

[Baldy]

That's great news, no more DRM, woop!

[Iced_Bullet]

This is probably just a way to increase the price of the songs without people complaigning :p

[Immelmann]

A buck 29?!? :eek:

[Guest RB26DETT]

hehe. i skipped that part of the apple keynote. i don't buy music from iTunes, i still buy CD's. :p

[Nodz86]

I sort of do the same RB, I buy singles and od songs from itunes but albums I still buy a CD or best of's or compilations. I like to have the real thing, physical object rather than a file.

[Baldy]

I used to buy cd's but i find it easier to burn a copy now. Looking at buying a burner to make cd covers with.

[Nodz86]

Cool, I know with my CD/DVD drive it has lightscribe and can put designs on the actual CD, which is cool, never used it though