“Yes, Apple is in negotiations with the three biggest music labels, Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group about acquiring licenses to sell music free of digital rights management software,” Greg Sandoval reports for CNET.
“No, none of the deals is final… and one source told me it’s unlikely Apple will have anything to announce regarding DRM-free music from the top labels before the end of the year,” Sandoval reports.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Fred Mertz" for the heads up.]
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