Universal has announced that it is abandoning the practice of embedding digital rights management (DRM) software in its music.

In a limited trial Universal will strip out the DRM from music sold via some retailers, including Google, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.com. Music sold on iTunes will still have DRM embedded however.

Universal said: "The experiment will run from August to January and analyse such factors as consumer demand, price sensitivity and piracy in regards to the availability of open MP3s."

Analysts are already warning that DRM in music is ineffective and Apple and Amazon have already started selling DRM-free songs. EMI is the only other recording label to dump DRM, with their band Blur releasing a totally DRM-free album shortly afterwards.

Universal artists include Amy Winehouse and 50 Cent.