Amazon offering free digital copies of CDs

In a move that seems like it should have been made sometime in the last decade, Amazon has announced that thanks to a new feature called AutoRip – unfortunately only available in the US at the moment – those that buy CDs via the site or have done so since it opened its doors in 1998, will also be given access to a digital version of it through Amazon's cloud.

While the catalogue of applicable CDs is only 50,000 strong at the moment, it is thought likely to grow over time. It does however stretch back over 15 years, so if you're more into that oldie music found in the late 90s, then you're just as applicable as those into the latest pop craze.

“When we picked those 50,000 titles we focused on having a substantial majority of our physical CD sales covered,” said Steve Boom, head of digital music at Amazon in a statement (via BBC).

This is an interesting move by Amazon, since it is essentially offering a legitimate way for CD buyers to access the music files digitally, something that has previously only been possible through ripping. While this sort of thing has been common place for a long time, the music industry has always implied that it was illegal to do so.

KitGuru Says: Here's hoping they offer something similar for movies soon. Granted I haven't bought a DVD in many years and with Netflix I'm not likely to, but there's no reason people shouldn't be able to have a decent rip of the film they paid for, if they want to.

How about free Ebooks when you buy a paperback?

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