Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Wal-Mart Undercuts Apple
According to the Wall Street Journal, Wal-Mart is aiming to maintan it's lead in the music retail market by launching DRM free. They will sell songs without the software. Mike Barris informs the reader that,
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has begun selling some of its online music catalog without anticopying software, stepping up its competition with Apple Inc.'s iTunes store. Wal-Mart will sell songs without the software -- known as digital rights management, or DRM -- through its walmart."
Some record companies and Wal-Mart feel that DRM with the software is often defeated and ineffective at solving digital piracy. Also, Apples DRM software locks owners of the ipod into only buying online at itunes. Record companies complain that this limits digital music sales. As a result, Wal-Mart will undercut apples prices and their new format will be compatible for many devices, including ipods and iphones. It appears that Wal-Mart alonfg with some record companies see DRM as anti-competitive because they are usually defeated.
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has begun selling some of its online music catalog without anticopying software, stepping up its competition with Apple Inc.'s iTunes store. Wal-Mart will sell songs without the software -- known as digital rights management, or DRM -- through its walmart."
Some record companies and Wal-Mart feel that DRM with the software is often defeated and ineffective at solving digital piracy. Also, Apples DRM software locks owners of the ipod into only buying online at itunes. Record companies complain that this limits digital music sales. As a result, Wal-Mart will undercut apples prices and their new format will be compatible for many devices, including ipods and iphones. It appears that Wal-Mart alonfg with some record companies see DRM as anti-competitive because they are usually defeated.
