SDMI consortium agrees digital music format

The Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) consortium has completed the first step in creating a new digital music marketplace.

At a meeting in Los Angeles, over 100 companies from the music, consumer electronics and information technology industries adopted a specification for portable devices for digital music.

The move will be followed by a second phase aimed at integrating screening technology for filtering out pirated music.

The big record labels - BMG, EMI, Sony Music, Universal and Warner Music Group - have opposed the illegal downloading of music in the controversial MP3 format via the Internet since its introduction.

SDMI's Portable Device Specification Version 1.0 will be made available after it is ratified at the SDMI plenary meeting on 7-8 July, and will be posted at http://www.sdmi.org .

SDMI-compliant players could be available by the end of the year.