Although generally quite a tech-lover, I have been very wary of music downloads, because I have seen the horrible mess that DRM (Digital Rights Management) can make of a computer.

Over the moon, therefore, to see that Amazon.com has opened an MP3 store for clean, DRM-free downloads – and it’s very cheap by UK standards as well. See their albums list and their individual tracks list.

Excellent, I thought. Indeed, wonderful.

So I clicked through to my first purchase (a free track to see how it worked) and guess what. It says ‘(Amazon MP3 Purchases are limited to U.S. customers.)’ Sinks into sad reflection that there ain’t no such thing as a truly global company.

Still, any US readers out there – enjoy!