Universal denies DRM-free track Apple rumours

Not looking to follow EMI

9 June 2007 0:23 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Universal has denied that it is planning to launch DRM-free tracks on Apple's iTunes.

"The rumor is completely untrue", Peter LoFrumento, Senior Vice President at Universal Music Group told Pocket-lint.

Rumours surfaced on the internet on Friday that Universal may soon be joining EMI and releasing its songs DRM-free to online music stores like Apple at iTunes Plus tracks.

Earlier this month, Apple allowed its shoppers to buy DRM-free tracks for a premium of 20p on its online music store, however ran into criticism for encoding users name and account email details into each music file purchased so it can track those who share songs excessively.

Buying your music without digital rights management restrictions means that you, as an individual, are free to play the track you've purchased as many times as you like, and you can burn it or copy it to as many devices as you see fit. For personal use.

DRM-free does not mean copyright-free. Sticking your latest downloads on some dodgy P2P site is not what DRM-free tracks are all about.