Apple use DRM-free safety net.

EMI to sell embedded AACs online

by Adam Benzine

Apple has quietly installed safety measures with the launch of DRM-free EMI tracks by effectively introducing a new form of copy protection.

Steve Jobs' company began selling tracks by EMI artists in a new high- quality, DRM-free form last week through its newly-launched iTunes Plus service, but every track sold in this format will be digitally embedded with the buyer's name and email address.

The unannounced move means that, while EMI will be able to offer interoperable music files that work across multiple devices, it will also be able to put up a strong disincentive to users who would consider uploading their purchased material onto peer-to-peer websites, since few customers are likely to want their names and email addresses available in the public domain.

Apple announced last Wednesday morning that it had made available an update for iTunes, allowing it to sell the "premium downloads". This fulfilled a pledge made in April that it would offer the new product by the end of May. Among the EMI releases now on sale in this format are 12 Paul McCartney albums that were previously unavailable on the service.

EMI global head of digital Barney Wragg says that meeting the May 31 deadline had involved re-delivering its entire catalogue to ...