[LINK] EMI ditches Digital Copy Protection on Downloads.

[Adam Todd]

That didn't take long.


http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/label-lifts-restrictions-on-playing-around/2007/04/03/1175366240523.html

Label lifts restrictions on playing around

Emily Dunn Entertainment Writer
April 4, 2007

Back on track ... Daniel Johns and his band Silverchair have released their 
new album, Young Modern, through EMI.
Photo: Dallas Kilponen


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IF YOU can't beat them, join them appears to be the new mantra for record 
companies struggling to cope with digital music piracy.

In a move expected to be followed by others in the industry, record label 
EMI this week scrapped the unpopular copy protection software from its 
digital tracks, allowing listeners to download its artists without 
restrictions on the type of digital music player.

Until now, owners of digital music players, including the market-leading 
Apple iPod, have been restricted to buying downloads only from compatible 
stores such as Apple's iTunes.

EMI's move, welcomed yesterday by Apple's chief executive, Steve Jobs, will 
mean iPod owners can buy from a wider variety of stores.

EMI is one of four major record labels in the world. It represents artists 
such as Robbie Williams, Gorillaz, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, 
Silverchair, Missy Higgins, Kylie Minogue and Keith Urban.

EMI has removed digital rights management software from its entire back 
catalogue and new releases. One notable exception for making downloads 
available is the Beatles, who are among a group of bands yet to sign 
distribution rights to digital music stores.

The managing director of EMI Australia, John O'Donnell, said the move was 
in response to people wanting to use different digital music devices at 
different times and in different ways.

"The most important thing the consumer will enjoy is greater 
inter-operability; they will be able to buy music via Apple and move it to 
a rival device other than the iPod," Mr O'Donnell said. "Just like the CD, 
we offer it and the public can move it from player to player."

The new feature comes at a premium, with consumers paying an extra 35 cents 
for unprotected tracks. Some buyers labelled the move as a way of record 
labels and digital music stores raising prices.

However, a Sydney University psychology student and tutor, Alex Russell, 
26, who buys several songs a week to add to his 2000-plus iPod collection, 
said he would not mind paying more for better quality and flexibility.

"With technology becoming more integrated, it is fairer to the consumer," 
Mr Russell said.

But he said he was concerned that lifting the restrictions would encourage 
friends to share legally downloaded files in the way pirated music can be 
shared.

"I have a mate in a band and the whole idea with digital rights management 
was that you play the music on your own and don't share it with 100 of your 
friends," he said.