RSSWarner Wants MP3s Off of AnywhereCD
By Ed Oswald | Published April 13, 2007, 3:21 PM
Warner Music Group gave music retailer AnywhereCD mixed messages on Thursday, on one hand demanding it remove its digital music from its site, but on the other hand saying it was acceptable for the company to help rip its albums to MP3.
AnywhereCD had been selling albums in two forms, one in regular CD form, with an option to download the tracks immediately in MP3 format. Some even include the option to just download the MP3's themselves without receiving the physical CDs at a small discount.
Warner took issue with this policy, and demanded that the site stop offering its content in such a manner. It did say however, that a service from the company that allows for owned CDs to be ripped to the MP3 format will be permitted.
According to the music label, AnywhereCD's current online store structure is in violation of Warner's licensing terms. A letter was sent to the company asking that all content be removed. A check by BetaNews Friday indicated Warner's music still remained on the sites catalog.
The company is owned and founded by Michael Robertson, more commonly known for founding MP3.com in the 1990s. The company has declined to comment on Warner's request.
Warner needs to face reality. Consumers want DRM-free music, and they don't want to pay a ridiculous price for it either. With brick/morter music retailers gone, they should be passing the savings along to musicians and consumers and reducing prices all at the same time.
Otherwise, people are going to keep swapping music with each other, especially now that there are a bunch of encrypted file-sharing apps popping up left and right (see http://www.gigatribe.com for an example).
However, I'll give Warner kudos for signing Van Halen back in the 70's; that's the last intelligent thing they've done!
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...and further evidence that the Labels just don't understand digital music. Very sad.
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typical snafu, 1 company, 2 departments, no communication between the 2
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