Vodafone moves to DRM-free music

Good news for anyone who regularly downloads music, but is frustrated by restrictive Digital Rights Management (DRM) - Vodafone has announced today it has signed deals with some of the big record companies to allow users to download their music DRM free.

DRM is a form of revenue protection employed by record companies, designed to prevent file sharing and illegal music copying. However, it controversially often prevents users from enjoying their own downloads, often limiting them to only being able to enjoy a particular download on one or two devices. With many users now owning multiple devices, this can be very restrictive.

Vodafone is the first mobile network operator to make this move, enabling users worldwide to download DRM-free music on the move to their mobile phones, netbooks and laptops. Additionally, customers who have already purchased tracks or albums released by the record companies involved (Universal Music, Sony Music or EMI) in WMA format will be able to upgrade to DRM free MP3 format at no extra charge.

“Music is central to many of our customers’ lives,” said Pieter Knook, Vodafone Internet Services Director.  “By Vodafone pioneering DRM free on mobile and offering MP3s on PC, they will now have the freedom to download tracks from their favourite artists without any device restrictions allowing them to experience their music however they want it, wherever they are.”