Anyone wonder if Steve Jobs KNEW this was coming and wrote his open letter so that when it DOES happen... he can claim he was the catalyst? He does talk to these guys on a fairly regular basis I would assume...

You know what's funny? Everytime a negative article about studios using DRM comes out, the geeks on this site go apeshit, and post a bazillion ascerbic remarks about how the studio, RIAA, whoever should die a painful death over a period of a thousand years. But the last couple articles stating that people in the biz are looking at dumping DRM have barely registered with the "ZOMG, my fair use rights!!!11" crowd.

I wonder why that is. Maybe it's because if brought to fruition, the lack of DRM would take away a key "reason" that these folks used to justify piracy, and that's not very exciting, is it? Hmmm.

If the aforementioned crowd was honest, you'd think they'd be excited, or at least cautiously optimistic about this news. But then again, pirates aren't exactly honest, are they?

Even if they sell a lot of older music this way it would be great. Stuff that is out of print or hard to find, which they make little no money from right now, would be the perfect candidates for DRM-free paid dowloading. As long as they have some high-quality dowloads available and not just low bitrate MP3s.

Since I buy most of my music from EMI, I really like this.
The only reason I still buy CD's is because I don't really like DRM, although apple's FairPlay isn't so strict..

That there condition of anonymity is watertight.

Yup, no way they could narrow it down to a few people. No sir.

EMI was the WORST when it came to copy protection (well, after Sony I guess). They are part of the reason I have all but completely stopped buying CD's.

If they are hopping off the bandwagon, I bet everyone else will.

Ahhhh...the sweet sound of a good idea gaining momentum.

The day we see a DRM free world will truly be a joyous one. Best of luck to the labels finally giving us what we want.