iTunes goes DRM free!!!!

[BlackArrow]

Yes, believe it or not the day has come.......

Apple has announced three significant changes to its iTunes Store at Macworld Expo, but the first is undoubtedly the biggest news: The music and video download service, which features more than 10 million songs, is finally going Digital Rights Management (DRM)-free.

Users who have already purchased music from the iTunes Store protected with Apple?s FairPlay DRM will be able to upgrade their entire library of previously-purchased songs, though an additional fee is required?30 cents per song.

iTunes Store goes DRM-free | Macworld

[H0ly-H@nd-Gr3nade]

While this is definitely a step in the right direction, Amazon still provides a better deal all around (79 cents, never any DRM, etc.).

I would hate to be a loyal Apple supporter who has thousands and thousands of DRM filled songs. It sure will cost a pretty penny to "upgrade" their whole library.

I wonder what this will do to piracy?

[BlackArrow]

The other part of the announcement is that the majority of the Library will now be priced at .69 cents.....some at .99 and the most demanded (to me read "teen") 1.29.

Better than it was.......and I never downloaded songs before since I prefer to OWN them. Now, I will give it a try.

[Apache Warrior]

I heard this on NPR today too.
Apache

[ChrisWW11]

Amazon has a good service also. But I hope we don't see songs for over $1.

[BenKenobi]

Its nice

But 30 cents to upgrade? BS!

And if its goes above $1, its amazon time for me

[mapes]

In theory they have the ability to convert the m4p songs into mnp3 songs. It's called Fair Use... They just have to do it on they're own

[Apache Warrior]

I have always saved a copy, of every song, as an MP3 just in case.
Apache

[Trooper110]

In theory they have the ability to convert the m4p songs into mnp3 songs. It's called Fair Use... They just have to do it on they're own

Technically, this however is superseceded by the digital millennium copyright act which makes it illegal to bypass DRM to get to your fairly bought media. Which is why it's "illegal" to copy your own movies to your computer for the most part. Honestly, if the RIAA could come up with a solid way to do the same with music 100% of the time I'm sure they'd jump on it in a heartbeat. The only problem is that most of the time studios still don't include it on CDs, and with the plethora of internet based music services offering DRM free music now, it's going to be hard to get anyone to go back to it. And just an FYI, you've been able to get music from Itunes DRM free for a while, I guess this just means they're including the entire library now.

Might actually help drive up revenue since DRM is a sure fire way to get some people to avoid your content like the plague. Main reason I never bought Spore.

[Duke{CLR}]

I heard about the price drop but not the DRM removal. I have to wonder if they were feeling competition from other sites like Amazon. I also wonder if this allows you to install it on any device and burn it an unlimited times.