After Apple decided to remove digital rights management from music sold on its iTunes store, the company has changed its course and is now offering users a choice. Instead of providing all downloads free of digital rights management – technology added to downloads which prevents users from pirating files – users will now pay extra to upgrade tracks to be free of DRM.
The move is a change from Apple’s initial plan, which required iTunes users to upgrade their entire libraries, often at a cost of hundreds of dollars. The switch means users can now pick and choose which songs they want upgraded.
But the move has been met with hostility from some users, who claim they were forced to upgrade their entire library when they only wanted a few songs upgraded.
These users say they will be seeking a refund.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
