Kim Hart, of the Washington Post writes: "Wal-Mart today announced it would sell digital music downloads with no anticopying software". Is this a golden opportunity for the anti-DRM movement?

While Hart attempts to present a balanced viewpoint, I can afford to be more biased. EMI Group and Universal Music Group are experimenting with DRM-free music. I applaud the move and hope that people will intentionally support the DRM-free music offerings. In fact, I would go so far as to encourage people to avoid/boycott all DRMed content and only buy the DRM-free content. I already avoid DRMed content anyway, except when renting movie DVDs (which I have no intention of copying to begin with).

Not all of the companies Hart mentions are so enthusiastic about DRM-free music and video. Of course, in their efforts to ensure they get theirs, they seem to forget about the golden goose concept, thus trampling the rights of others in the process. I really think we have a golden opportunity here. The FOSS community told Dell what we wanted. When Dell offered GNU/Linux, we responded. Dell seems fairly happy with our support. Likewise in this case - we need to vote loud and clear with our little greenbacks. Hey, what do you know? The fronts are green, too! Anyway, you get my drift!

When it comes to DRM, just say "NO". Well, o.k., you can go ahead and say, "Hell NO". Support Free Software. Support DRM-free music and video. Support free enterprise.