uk

In Britain, seven of the largest retailers of MP3 downloads have produced a logo which promotes the MP3 format for DRM-free downloads.

The Entertainment Retailers Association devised the logo to emphasize the fact that MP3 files can be played on any digital player.

While MP3 is still encumbered by patents, and sites supporting Ogg Vorbis would really be something amazing, this is a good move for consumers who know about the DRM issue.

Ben Drury from 7Digital, one of the first online retailers in the UK to offer MP3 downloads said that online sales "have been booming" because users "love the freedom of MP3".

The BBC has an article up about a report by The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) calling on Parliament to revise the UK's copyright laws (currently Brittons do not have even the private right to copy their CDs to their own computers or portable digital music players).

Deputy Director of the IPPR, Dr. Ian Kearns said, "[But] it is not the music industry's job to decide what rights consumers have that is the job of government."

Report author Kay Withers said: "The idea of all-rights reserved doesn't make sense for the digital era and it doesn't make sense to have a law that everyone breaks. To give the IP regime legitimacy it must command public respect."