Wal-Mart ceases DRM support for music downloads

Like Microsoft and Yahoo before it, Wal-Mart will soon shut down DRM servers for its old music service. But Wal-Mart customers only have one week to prepare, and that could mean hurriedly backing up the tracks they've already bought.

Wal-Mart made a bold move in February of this year, when it began offering DRM-free MP3 tunes on its Web site. This week, though, the mass merchandiser has infuriated many users by sending out a letter signaling the end of DRM support for earlier music downloads from the site.

After October 9, users will have no choice but to keep those tunes on the same PC and OS they used during the original downloads of those songs. To remain playable on other systems, songs purchased before last February will need to be backed up on to recordable audio CDs before that time.

"We began offering MP3s in August 2007 and have offered only DRM (digital rights management)-free MP3s since February 2008. As the final stage of our transition to a full DRM-free MP3 download store, Walmart will be shutting down our digital rights management system that supports protected songs and albums purchased from our site," Wal-Mart told users in the letter.

"By backing up your songs, you will be able to access them from any personal computer. This change does not impact songs or albums purchased after Feb. 2008, as those are DRM-free. 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. Your music and video collections will still play on the originally authorized computer," Wal-Mart's users were told.

"Thank you for using Walmart.com for music downloads. We are working hard to make our store better than ever and easier to use."

Microsoft took a similar step in April of this year, telling customers of the former MSN Music -- which was shut down and replaced by Zune Marketplace in 2006 -- that as of August 31 of this year, support would stop for "the retrieval of license keys for the songs you purchased on MSN Music or the authorization of additional computers."

Then in July, Yahoo warned users of its Yahoo Music service that -- as of October of this year -- it, too, would end DRM support for downloads of old, DRM-locked tunes.

Yet Microsoft and Yahoo, at least, each gave users several months to prepare for the transition by attempting to copy the old songs to CDs. Wal-Mart, on the other hand, will be abruptly turning off its DRM servers on a date now only a little over one week away.

Microsoft, for its part, finally relented somewhat. After users vented their wrath loudly online, the lifetime of MSN Music's DRM servers got extended by three more years.

If you read between the lines, it's clear that none of these companies is eliminating DRM out of the kindness of their hearts. Competitive factors are at play. If one company gets rid of DRM, others follow, out of the fear that they'll lose business otherwise.

Wal-Mart officials were unavailable for comment in time for BetaNews' deadline.