August 10, 2007 (Reuters) — Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music label, said yesterday that it will test the sale of songs from artists such as Amy Winehouse, 50 Cent and the Black Eyed Peas without customary copy-protection technology.

The New York-based subsidiary of Vivendi said in a statement that it will allow the sale of thousands of its albums and tracks available in MP3 form without copy protection software known as digital rights management (DRM) over a trial period.

Universal’s test run marks a departure for the music industry’s common practice, in which most major recording studios insist that music sellers use DRM technology to curb online piracy