Warner Music Group on Thursday demanded that online retailer AnywhereCD remove its digital albums from the site, saying the start-up had violated their agreement by selling Warner’s music without copy protection software.
But the fourth-largest music company appeared to make a concession to calls for music without copy restrictions, known as DRM, by saying it was acceptable for AnywhereCD to help fans rip CDs into the popular MP3 format.
Copy protection has been a contentious issue in the music industry, with critics saying DRM restricts the growth of digital music, but supporters saying it helps curb piracy.
The No. 3 record company, EMI Group, recently announced it will start selling its music without protection in an agreement with Apple Inc. and other online retailers.
I HOPE this starts a movement away from DRMin music! EMI has already seen the light….it is time for the other record companies to see it as well. If they don’t they will be the ones that suffer.