Microsoft wants to drop DRM too

Author: Tim Smalley
Published: 10th April 2007

Let's get down with DRM, says Microsoft.

Following in the footsteps of Apple and EMI, Microsoft has said that it will also start selling music online without DRM protection soon.

It’s fairly obvious that this is a response to Apple’s lead, but a Microsoft spokesperson was quick to highlight that EMI’s deal with Apple wasn’t exclusive. The spokesperson also claimed that the company has been discussing the possibility of offering DRM-free music on its Zune player with EMI and other record companies “for some time now”.

The question, of course, is whether Microsoft will expect consumers to pay more for DRM-free music in the same way that Apple has done so?

At this moment in time, we don’t know the answer to that and it is likely to depend on the record labels. Thus, it looks likely that DRM-free tracks are going to cost more if Apple’s deal with EMI is anything to go by.

One thing is for sure, Microsoft has made quite a dramatic u-turn after Steve Jobs’ open letter to the recording industry, which called for an end to DRM. At that time, Microsoft claimed the letter was naive and irresponsible – oh how times have changed!

Whatever the case, this news is surely not going to please the RIAA, but then most people want to stick two fingers up at the organisation for one reason or another. Got a thought? Share it with us in the forums.