Many heard over the weekend that Sony BMG would begin to sell DRM-free MP3s (finally, after being beat to the punch by the other three lumbering major labels), but there is an immensely stupid catch: you have to buy a download card with a special code at a retail store. With the code, you return home and then you can download the album you seek.

Wha-wha-what? Why don't I just buy the physical album and then rip the tunes? I'll get better file compression that way, and I'll have the CD itself if my computer ever crashes on me.

Is Sony BMG really stupid, or is there some brilliant reason for this that I've missed out on?

Tags: business, drm, sony bmg