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Similar to Amazon, MySpace and other online music vendors it appears Walmart is transitioning to DRM free music offerings.  We applaud them for recognizing the information rights of their customers and removing the impediments to fair use which digital restrictions management imposes on users.

That being said, I am concerned about the way they chose to phase out and retire DRM in their offerings.  Rather than making it a smooth transition, they plan to shutdown their DRM servers and terminate customer service for DRM’d music on October 9, 2008.   By shutting down their DRM servers, they will cut off users from the ability to authorize new devices when transfering their songs between devices.  Their recomendation: burn your music to a cd before its too late!   This is a classic example of why DRM (digital restrictions management) is bad news.

“Beginning October 9, we will no longer be able to assist with digital rights management issues for protected WMA files purchased from Walmart.com. If you do not back up your files before this date, you will no longer be able to transfer your songs to other computers or access your songs after changing or reinstalling your operating system or in the event of a system crash.” (via BoingBoing)

Retiring DRM is a giant leap in the right direction (one that all vendors should take), but its important that they not leave their customers in the lurch.  Would it really be that difficult to offer users the opportunity to freely re-download purchased music in a DRM free and unencumbered format? Doing so would make them standout a defender of customer rights, in a market where they are lagging rather than leading.

Let this be a lesson to us all; reject DRM in all its forms if you plan to use the products you purchase long term. Whether it be music, software or books; DRM meens you are renting your legally purchased content/information, and not purcashing it.