UK-based digital music store 7digital has secured the first deal to exclusively sell Warner Music's full catalogue in the rights-free format across Europe.

From today, customers in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Spain can download tracks from Warner artists in MP3 format that can be played across any device.

Apple's iTunes store, which dominates the music downloads market, sells most songs in a proprietary file format that can only be played on Apple devices such as the iPod.

Rivals have since exploited this restriction, with Amazon launching digital rights management (DRM)-free format downloads via its US online store last September.

Apple introduced its own DRM-free offering, iTunes Plus, last May but the service only extends to EMI tracks.

7digital now stocks 3.5m tracks, 80% of which are rights free. The site already has a deal to sell EMI's DRM-free music and is also negotiating with Sony BMG and Universal.

Both these deals are expected to complete this summer, allowing 7digital to offer DRM-free music from the four major labels to UK and European consumers.

Warner is looking to increase its "digital footprint" by distributing music in as many forms as possible.

In January, 7digital secured £4.25m in funding to expand across Europe and into the US. The site partners with Bebo and Last.fm, among others.

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