EMI dropping copy protection on Apple iTunes songs
EMI Group PLC on Monday announced a deal that will allow computer company Apple Inc. to sell the record company’s songs online without copy protection software. The agreement means that customers of Apple’s iTunes store will soon be able to play downloaded songs by the Rolling Stones, Norah Jones, Coldplay and other top-selling artists without the copying restrictions once imposed by their label.
The announcement follows calls by Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs earlier this year for the world’s four major record companies, including EMI, to start selling songs online without copy-protection software. The software, known as DRM, is designed to combat piracy by preventing unauthorized copying, but can make downloading music difficult for consumers. Some analysts suggest that lifting the software restrictions could boost sales of online music, which currently account for around 10 percent of global music sales.
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