This could be a sign of the times ahead, where DRM in legally bought online music becomes the exception instead of the rule. MP3 files are unencumbered by Digital Restrictions Management, and so there is no copy protection to annoy paying customers. I can reconsider my boycott of Puretracks music service now.
Here’s their newsletter notice of the change in their service:
Hi [Saskboy],
Thank you for being a Puretracks customer. We are very excited to announce that as of today Puretracks will be offering MP3 files for sale on our site at Puretracks.com.
And as the first North American digital service provider to launch ‘a la carte’ MP3 music downloads, we’re happy to offer you a free MP3 track from the popular Canadian band The Barenaked Ladies.
The track, called ‘The Sound of Your Voice,’ will be delivered along with the February 27th Puretracks newsletter. You will need to be a registered newsletter subscriber to be eligible to download this track.
If you don’t currently receive our newsletter (filled with weekly free tracks and exclusive content), click here to register.MP3s at Puretracks
MP3 tracks are easy to download (no licenses required) and can be played on all digital audio devices. Puretracks currently offers over 50,000 tracks in French and English from popular artists such as: Sarah McLachlan, Broken Social Scene, Feist, The Barenaked Ladies, Jean Leloup and Richard Seguin. Track prices starting at $ 0.79 each.Be sure to register now for the Puretracks newsletter to get your free MP3 track from The Barenaked Ladies! Click here to register. If you are already registered, watch for your February 27th Puretracks newsletter to get your free track.
Regards,Alistair Mitchell,
CEO
Make sure you tell your online music provider that you won’t buy unless the music is offered in MP3 or another completely DRM-free format. It seems Puretracks is starting to listen to consumers and artists.
I was considering telling Slashdot.org about this, but someone else beat me to it.
@hotmail.com
![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.efc.ca/images/efcfreet.gif)
Steven Hodson | 22-Feb-07 at 5:20 pm | Permalink
don’t get out that credit card yet Saskboy. while they are saying this it is also coming out that they may be more than a little misleading.
As it turns out all Puretracks songs are possibly crippled with Windows DRM
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/02/22/canadian_download_st.html
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/02/22/tech-puretracksdrm-20070222.html?ref=rss
Saskboy | 22-Feb-07 at 5:34 pm | Permalink
I took their newsletter to mean that they’d be adding MP3s, and they might not be available for what you want yet. Perhaps tomorrow or by the 27th they’ll have them available? If not, I’ll certainly withdraw my endorsement, and heap scorn upon them like I have never done before.
Steven Hodson | 22-Feb-07 at 5:50 pm | Permalink
I’m not sure what is going on as I don’t use the service myself. But definitely something to keep a close eye on and not take them at their word. Boing Boing will be keeping a very close eye on it now that this has surfaced.
Steve Job's Evil Twin | 23-Feb-07 at 8:04 am | Permalink
It is the first step to getting rid of DRM overall. If people legally buy a copy of a song they should be able to duplicate it onto all of the devices they want to use. For now people will just go and illegally download songs because then they can do just that. It will probably be a while until we see it completely gone…. until then…. Limewire is calling your name.
Steve Jobs' Evil Twin | 23-Feb-07 at 8:07 am | Permalink
typo….I guess that should be Jobs’….
H. Hamster | 26-Feb-07 at 8:22 am | Permalink
Steve Jobs’ Evil Twin: Not to pedantic, but if no money is exchanged, it is NOT illegal to download songs in Canada. Copyright infringement is a civil issue, not a legal one. Pretty effective brainwashing on the part of RIAA and CRIA.