DRM-free music: EMI calls the tune and Apple takes the credit

Having been a big believer in DRM and its necessity, although dismissive of its inflexibility and lack of sophistication, we, Rethink Research, have to interpret the big news of last week that EMI will offer its catalog DRM-free, as at least dangerous and potentially disastrous. But that’s only if it is looked at in the long term. In the short term it might even be beneficial to both EMI and Apple.