Todd Boss

It’s still early January, but this could go down as the dumbest idea of 2008: Sony’s new DRM-free downloads will be available only by a code from the back of a card purchased in a retail store (which will then be deposited in a landfill).

Their reasoning?

While conventional download services, such as iTunes, (AAPL) make impulse music buying easier than the cards, Sony BMG feels “strongly that there’s a group that will enjoy carrying the imagery of an artist they love around with them, or sharing it with their friends.”

At first, I found Sony’s clueless flailing to be quite funny, but it has long since become pathetic (they remind me of Britney that way). I think that I may actually be starting to feel a bit of pity.

They’re dropping it an the Amazon Music Store, at least. They still have DRM on most of the tracks over at iTunes, and I think it’ll still be a while before you see this with movies. Nonetheless, this is definitely a big step in the right direction.

UPDATE: This isn’t a done deal.  However, their attitude towards DRM is softening; they are giving iPod owners a workaround to bypass their DRM.

Once Sony finally completes the quartet, I just might think about starting to pay for major label music again. Of course, I’m not particularly interested in listening to any that I don’t already have, so they will also have to step up the quality to get me back.

DRM is for suckers. That’s why those of us who know better steal…