Friday, August 10, 2007

Universal Dumps DRM, Disses iTunes

Universal Music Group (UMG) will test selling music free of digital rights management (DRM) technology, and it plans to make the tracks available through RealNetworks' (Nasdaq: RNWK) Rhapsody service and other outlets -- but not through the iTunes Music Store.

Universal becomes the second major record label after EMI to begin offering music without DRM controls that limit how many times songs can be copied, e-mailed or transferred onto different devices.

UMG -- which is owned by media giant Vivendi -- said it will make thousands of song tracks and full-length albums available in DRM-free format, including music from 50 Cent, Amy Winehouse, The Police and Johnny Cash.