The Death of DRM: Great news or April fool’s joke?

The Wall Street Journal and BBC Online just reported today that EMI plans to sell “significant amounts” of music without DRM. EMI is one of the ‘Big4’ record companies and would be the first to make such a move.

Mere hours after April 1, EMI invited members of the media to a press conference, due later today, to announce an “exciting new digital offering.” Although no further details were given, many suspect that it concerns the calls for the end of Digital Rights Management (DRM). EMI had previously tested waters earlier this year by offering a single by Norah Jones for sale without DRM.

One of DRM abolishment’s most notable advocates is Apple CEO Steve Jobs. In his Open Letter posted on Apple’s website, he claimed that DRM have proven unsuccessful in dealing with copyright infringement.

Right now everyone’s playing the waiting game.

Personally, I think its merely a marketing ploy. As mentioned in my previous entries, it is in Apple’s interests for DRMs to be abolished. Now that EMI is seen to be the only one among the Big 4 to remove DRMs, I wonder what that will do for sales of EMI produced music?

Hmmm…

I’m sure that they will come up with some alternative soon. Maybe I’m just too cynical.