EMI May Remove DRM From Parts of Catalog

An anonymous reader writes "Ars Technica is reporting that EMI may announce on Monday that it will be freeing much of its catalog from the shackles of DRM. The Wall Street Journal, in a subscription-only portion of its site, is saying that that Apple CEO Steve Jobs will be present at the announcement in London and that the music will be sold through the iTunes Store and possibly other online outlets. In early February rumblings were heard that EMI was thinking about ditching DRM, but EMI was unable to entice the likes of Apple, Microsoft, and others. As it turned out, EMI wanted a considerable advance payment to offset what it perceived as a risk: selling DRM-free music online. EMI's position was simple: if they sell music without DRM, then users will find trading it that much easier." There's also rumours of an Apple/Beatles announcement sometime today, perhaps tied into this drm decision.

If this is true....

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

If this is true....Let's hope disney/pixar content is next ;-)

(and the 'encryption' tag is wrong - encryption involves three parties & drm only two)

Risky

[Random BedHead Ed]

I'd consider paying for and downloading DRM-free music, but it sounds pretty risky to me. I know, CDs have no DRM, but we're talking about unprotected digital files here. I think I'm going to need a considerable downpayment to offset the risks, say in the order of a few million US dollars. Anyone else feel they need a downpayment before risking a download? Sounds like Apple's wallet's open.

I Call April Fools

[Shihar]

The idea that Apple would sell non-DRMed music is laughable. DRM is what keeps the iTunes locked to iPods, and iPods locked to iTunes. It isn't like Apple has been begging other companies to let them strip the DRM from their products. On the contrary, indie labels that use iTunes have been begging Apple for years to let them sell their music DRM free and Apple has shown absolutely no interest in doing so.

Personally, I call April Fools. The day Apple doesn't try and tie hardware, software, and content all together is the day hell freezes over. If Apple really wanted to strip DRM from some of their music, they would have already done so for the labels that are begging for it.

Re:Am I the only person

[MichaelSmith]

Who thought they meant electromagnetic interference?

Probably.

But now that you mention it, sufficently large amounts of EMI would certainly remove DRM from most types of media but this may be in the category of cures which kill the disease and the patient.

Sex Pistols Revenge?

[Black-Man]

"EMI... Good-bye"

Re:Will you go back and eat your words?

[ady1]

No but we can lick the monitor a bit.

If you download some of EMI's non-DRMed music...

[clickety6]

.. could you send me a copy to try ;-)

1.29US$ = .99GBP

[bazorg]

wow, next time I visit the US I'm bringing a big suitcase full of these MP3 things so I can sell them in Great Britain.

with their DRM removed, at a price of $1.29/1.29/£0.99. [emigroup.com] .

Re:Will it play on iPod and Rio?

[soft_guy]

Just when all doubted there would still be things for people like you to whine about, you've restored our faith in your ability to whine like a baby.

Waaaahh! My MP3 player won't play AAC and there isn't iTunes for Linux (unless you use WINE). Waaaaaahh!