Walmart Changes Mind on DRM, Keeps Servers Running

Entertainment

Walmart Changes Mind on DRM, Keeps Servers Running

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 5:00 PM on October 10, 2008

When Walmart made a special effort to remind us why DRM'd music should always be avoided by shutting down their authentication servers, the response must have been deafening. The world's largest retailer has decided to maintain its digital rights management servers for the present time "based on feedback from [its] customers," otherwise known as "the interminable wrath of the internet." I'm guessing a flood of emails with compelling arguments like "don't destroy my legally purchased music" and "I hate you" had something to do with the decision.

From: Walmart Digital Music
Date: October 9, 2008 11:03:39 PM CDT
Subject: UPDATE: Important Information About Your Digital Music Purchases

NOTE: This is a follow-up to our email titled "Important Information
About Your Digital Music Purchases" from 9/26/08.

Based on feedback from our customers, we have decided to maintain our
digital rights management (DRM) servers for the present time. What this
means to you is that our existing service continues and there is no
action required on your part. Our customer service team will continue
to assist with DRM issues for protected windows media audio (WMA) files
purchased from Walmart.com.

While our customer support team is available to assist you with any
issues, we continue to recommend that you back up your songs by burning
them to a recordable audio CD. By backing up your songs, you insure
access to them from any personal computer at any time in the future.

We appreciate your support and patience as we work to provide the best
service possible to you. As we move forward with our 100% MP3 store,
we'll continue to update you with key decisions regarding our service
and your account via email.

Thank you for using Walmart MP3 Music Downloads.

The Walmart Digital Music Team

Next Story: Mitsubishi's $US7000, 65-Inch LaserVue HDTV Reviewed: (Verdict: Lasers Are Awesome) »

« Previous Story: Toy Modder Extraordinaire Steampunks Return of the Jedi

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)

There are currently no AU comments for this post.

awdark

Posted 6:34 PM 10/10/08

I see it more as... people are lazy about burning or otherwise removing the DRM from their music so they want walmart to keep things going so they can delay the inevitable work involved with keeping things legal... which makes me wonder why walmart can't just let people re-download the music without the drm...

awdark

JemimaSheep

Posted 6:08 PM 10/10/08

Actually, this is a good thing! They were just going to switch the DRM servers off - leaving you without access to music that you'd bought. Now they're saying the DRM servers on, so you can still use your music. They're still going ahead with their DRM-free store as well, so I really don't see any down side to this.

JemimaSheep

michaelleung

Posted 6:51 PM 10/10/08

Gizmodo FAIL. You forgot that the MP3 stores are open.

michaelleung

colarmac

Posted 8:09 PM 10/10/08

Yes, I hate drm, why walmart can't just let people re-download the music without the drm? I have to use this drm converter again to remove the drm from my pruchased music, that's not cool.

colarmac

GadgetPlay

Posted 9:40 PM 10/10/08

Walmart has to pay AGAIN for the music if they allow you to re-download it as an MP3.

GadgetPlay

strider_mt2k

Posted 11:16 PM 10/10/08

strider_mt2k

WD40

Posted 12:32 AM 11/10/08

DRM = job security for me

WD40

Monkiee

Posted 12:32 AM 11/10/08

correct, walmart would be paying another full price for a song if they allowed all customers to redownload their music in mp3 format, however, this whole email is completely debatable right now, because as i and a few others work in the department, we were notified by our first customer who called in, and not by anyone else, More than likely the DRM will be fully supported for god knows how long.. All i know is, dont worry about having to burn the music to an audio cd anymore, apparently we'll keep resetting the licenses until walmart decides is enough.

Though we can only reset the licenses, the actual download attempts will not be reset.

Monkiee

burnblue

Posted 1:56 AM 11/10/08

@awdark: They're too lazy to burn it, then they're probably too lazy to re-download it all

burnblue

urbanturban666

Posted 3:05 AM 11/10/08

drms for noobs...

urbanturban666

General Halfshaftery

Posted 3:26 AM 11/10/08

The photo accompaning this post is total ROFLberries.

General Halfshaftery

LeighLubob

Posted 9:27 PM 10/10/08

Maybe I'm missing a US/UK English thing here, but surely you want to burn these files to an audio CD to "ensure" (rather than "insure") access to them in the future. I don't see how burning a CD will give me an insurance policy. Nice one, Wal-Mart e-mailing donkey!

LeighLubob

Post Your Comment

Gizmodo Australia moderates comments to avoid spam and abuse. We're looking for comments that are interesting, substantial and/or highly amusing. HTML is not accepted.

You must supply a name and your email address.

Name:

E-mail:

URL:

Remember me on this computer

Your comments: