Napster ditches DRM

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 7 Jan 2008 at 09:37

Napster is to start selling downloads in the MP3 format from the second quarter of this year, as the music industry increasingly turns away from DRM copy protection.

Ever since re-emerging as a legal music store, Napster had sold DRM protected tracks to prevent customers from illegally making multiple copies, however, the copy protection has proven unpopular with consumers.

Many have been frustrated to find that songs they buy can only be played on certain compatible digital players or could not be moved from one computer to another.

"We projected a year ago that there would be a critical mass of support for MP3, and we're pleased to see the music industry is beginning to support it," says chief executive Chris Gorog. "There's now enough top-tier content out there. There's little question that the broad adoption of MP3s will provide an uplift for the industry."

Major music companies including EMI Group, Vivendi's Universal Music Group and, more recently, Warner Music Group have begun selling songs in the MP3 format.

Sony BMG is reportedly also considering dropping the technology.

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