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General discussion (archive)Are Amazon's MP3's DRM-free?(25 posts)(25 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted December 26, 2011
The topic pretty much says it all. I think I heard they were awhile back, but I can't really remember.
No posts in this topic were marked as the solution yet. If you can help, add your reply
Posted December 26, 2011
They are, but you can only download them once AFAIK, so make backups.
Posted December 26, 2011
Yes they are, you can download them as many times as you want, plus they get stored in their cloud so you can listen to them wherever you are, as long as you have a browser window open to have their player running.
Posted December 26, 2011
MP3's cannot be DRM'd, can they?
Posted December 26, 2011
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Miaghstir: MP3's cannot be DRM'd, can they?
They can. With multiple ways. But most of the stores don't use it.

They watermark the file, though. It contains information about the buyer.
Post edited December 26, 2011 by keeveek
Posted December 26, 2011
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Miaghstir: MP3's cannot be DRM'd, can they?
Yeah but nobody that I know of uses DRM on audio files anymore. Not even iTunes.
Posted December 26, 2011
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AndrewC: They are, but you can only download them once AFAIK, so make backups.
Only on the UK store. The US one automatically saves them to the cloud player, where they can be downloaded as many times as you wish.

And yes, they're DRM free.
Posted December 26, 2011
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Miaghstir: MP3's cannot be DRM'd, can they?
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Navagon: Yeah but nobody that I know of uses DRM on audio files anymore. Not even iTunes.
iTunes also uses watermarking. They add to the file info about the buyer and transaction ID.

It's to help tracking pirates (easy way to know where file originated from)
Posted December 26, 2011
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keeveek: iTunes also uses watermarking.
Nothing wrong with that so long as it doesn't affect your ability to use your purchase how you see fit.
Posted December 26, 2011
Nope, they are MP3s. That is DRM in itself.
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keeveek: iTunes also uses watermarking. They add to the file info about the buyer and transaction ID.

It's to help tracking pirates (easy way to know where file originated from)
Which can be removed in like two seconds.
Post edited December 26, 2011 by kavazovangel
Posted December 26, 2011
Amazon.com MP3s are not DRMed, they are, however, sometimes watermarked (depends on the publisher).

Watermarks can be removed fairly trivially, of course.
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AndrewC: They are, but you can only download them once AFAIK, so make backups.
This is old information and no longer correct, if you didn't use their client (back when they launched, they didn't have a Linux client, for example) you couldn't redownload. Now all your digital shit gets added to your "library" on your Amazon.com account, you can open that up and there's a tab for every kind of content.
Post edited December 26, 2011 by orcishgamer
Posted December 26, 2011
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orcishgamer: This is old information and no longer correct, if you didn't use their client (back when they launched, they didn't have a Linux client, for example) you couldn't redownload. Now all your digital shit gets added to your "library" on your Amazon.com account, you can open that up and there's a tab for every kind of content.
Unfortunately, as Gremmi says, there's still no way for the purchases from Amazon.co.uk to be redownloaded (and I also can't use the US store for music because it's regionally restricted). *

I'm glad though that they at least allow redownloads for US/international customers.

* Can I download another copy of my MP3 files after the initial purchase?

Your Amazon MP3 purchases can only be downloaded once. After you have successfully downloaded the file to your computer at the time of purchase, we recommend that you create a backup copy.
Posted December 26, 2011
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AndrewC: * Can I download another copy of my MP3 files after the initial purchase?

Your Amazon MP3 purchases can only be downloaded once. After you have successfully downloaded the file to your computer at the time of purchase, we recommend that you create a backup copy.
That's shitty. I would never buy a mp3 from that store. When you pay for digital game/music you pay almost every time the exact same amount of money you would have to pay for hard copy. I accept that only because while paying for digital goods, you pay also for service. That means, among others, redownloads.
Posted December 26, 2011
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AndrewC: * Can I download another copy of my MP3 files after the initial purchase?

Your Amazon MP3 purchases can only be downloaded once. After you have successfully downloaded the file to your computer at the time of purchase, we recommend that you create a backup copy.
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keeveek: That's shitty. I would never buy a mp3 from that store. When you pay for digital game/music you pay almost every time the exact same amount of money you would have to pay for hard copy. I accept that only because while paying for digital goods, you pay also for service. That means, among others, redownloads.
While I agree with you it sounds more like an issue with the publishing rights in the UK than Amazon.com being shitty on purpose. Since they're happily providing redownloads to the rest of the US, and I think several other countries as well, I'm going to give them a pass on this one.
Posted December 26, 2011
Amazon mp3 only allow you to download once? Usually other music digital distributor sites will give you limited amount of time to complete your download and most of them has expiry date. But you can ask them for re-download on special circumstances, of course you must provide your proof of purchase etc. Though i don't know motive behind this method, maybe related to piracy.
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General discussion (archive)Are Amazon's MP3's DRM-free?(25 posts)(25 posts)
(25 posts)