EMI's move to release its catalogue without music protection has been welcomed, but critics claim Apple still has a lock-in

A news conference in London later Monday by Apple Inc.'s Steve Jobs and EMI Group could see the announcement that the first of the four big music labels will ditch digital rights management (DRM).

The music industry is adopting new tactics in its battle with students who download and share music illegally

Russia has agreed to shut down Allofmp3.com, the music website singled out by the United States as an obstacle to its support for Russian membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Apple may have to pay royalties in 2007 for every iPod shipped in 2007 if Universal Music Group successfully negotiates an agreement with Apple. Earlier this year, DailyTech reported that Universal had struck a deal with Microsoft and its Zune portable music player. Microsoft would pay royalty fees for every song downloaded by a user and every Zune player sold. Similar to a tax, this contract was definitely a big win for Universal and the music industry.

This week the U.S. government announced a joint program with Russia in an effort to thwart piracy as well as protecting intellectual property (PDF). The new joint program calls to address what the U.S. terms IPR, or intellectual property rights, which is a big concern in Russia right now as well as other countries such as China and Taiwan.

Universal Music Group sued MySpace.com late Friday, claiming that the social-networking site is infringing on the copyrights of thousands of songs and videos.

Universal, owned by French media conglomerate Vivendi, claims that Myspace has looked the other way as users unlawfully uploaded copyright music videos.

The top consumer complaint at online music service Napster: Songs purchased at Napster won't play on Apple's iPod.It's not Napster's fault. Apple's (AAPL) hugely successful iPod business is built on a closed system. You shop at iTunes Music Store for digital songs and use iTunes software to transfer them effortlessly to the iPod. The system works great for iPod owners. For others, there's a chaos of competing formats.

More than 8,000 alleged file sharers are facing legal action, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). This latest crackdown targets uploaders - people who allegedly put their music files onto peer-to-peer networks

The cynics at VoteForTheWorst.com sense the end may be nigh for American Idol contestant Kevin Covais.

Oddsmakers are betting against the baby-faced, 16-year-old TV talent show survivor, nicknamed "Chicken Little" because of his resemblance to the Disney movie character. Betmaker on Tuesday was giving 100-to-1 against his making the final.