Amazon Set To Bite Apple's Digital Core

Amazon's plans to launch an online music store and sell songs without digital-rights management, or DRM, have been blurry, but new reports this week are painting a clearer picture of the Internet retailing giant's intent.

According to sources in the London Times, Amazon has been talking with the major record labels "in the past fortnight" and is readying to open an online music store in May to challenge Apple's iTunes. The Times also reported that Amazon hopes to sell music with "reduced protection against copyright infringement."

If Amazon brings its plans to bear, it would follow in the footsteps of Microsoft, which followed in the footsteps of Apple with its Zune digital media player and online music store. Microsoft, too, is rumored to be considering DRM-free music, all spurred by Apple CEO Steve Jobs' open letter to the music industry asking the labels to strip digital media of copy protection.

Amazon could not immediately be reached for comment on its plans.