Universal Music Group is to sell its music online without copy-protection DRM, allowing downloaders to listen to music on any device and copy it freely.
Universal Music has said it will be selling music DRM-free through a number of existing music download sites - although not Apple's iTunes Store - until January at the least. DRM-free tracks will be playable on a wide range of MP3 players, including iPods. Universal Music has a huge roster of artists from Amy Winehouse and Stevie Wonder to 50 Cent and Bon Jovi,
Possible online piracy
The move by Universal Music is a shift away from the standard music industry practice of using copy-protection technology for digital downloads to combat online piracy. It reflects an ongoing debate about whether copy-protection is counter-productive. Some argue it limits the take-up of digital downloading by restricting how consumers use tracks they have paid for.
Earlier this year, EMI Music became the first major music label to open up its catalogue for DRM-free track downloads, selling higher quality DRM-free tracks at a premium price on iTunes Store.