Sony BMG hinders music pirates with protected CD

[Bellamy]

Sony BMG hinders music pirates with protected CD

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Sony BMG, the world's second-largest music company, is rolling out CDs with new technology that serves as a "speed bump" to hinder people who want to make illicit copies.

 

Users will be allowed to make three additional CD copies for their own use and to store the music files on their computer in a protected format from Microsoft.

 

Sony BMG's new copy-protection effort comes with at least one downside: PC users are unable to transfer the songs to Apple's popular iPod portable music player, because Apple has declined to make its software compatible with Microsoft's Windows Media digital rights management (DRM) system.

 

The copy-protection technology is also far from ironclad. Apple     Macintosh users currently face no restrictions at all. What's more, if users go to a Web site to complain about the lack of iPod compatibility, Sony BMG will send them an email with a "back door" measure on how to work around the copy protection.

 

A UK firm called First4Internet, which created the technology, said the primary goal is not to prevent copies of the songs from ending up on illicit, peer-to-peer file-trading networks, which the industry blames for million of dollars in lost sales.

 

Instead, it aims to dissuade people from burning unlimited CD copies in what is sometimes called "schoolyard piracy."

 

"This technology is a speed bump. It's trying to dissuade the average consumer from making as many copies as they like," said First4Internet Chief Executive Mathew Gilliat-Smith.

 

"You're not going to stop tracks getting on P2P sites," he added. "It's designed to stop casual piracy ... It's not saying you'll stop people from doing it, but it makes people stop and think."

 

Sony BMG also uses a separate copy-protection technology from Sunncomm Technologies. Previous copy-protected CD schemes have been quickly defeated, including one instance in which computer users cracked Sony's "Key2Audio" technology by scribbling on a disc with a felt-tip marker.

 

Some 2 million of the CDs using the First4Internet protection have been sold since March in the United States.

 

Gilliat-Smith said a version of the copy-protection technology that works with Apple Macintosh computers is on the way and that the music companies are in talks with Apple about iPod compatibility.

 

"The whole industry is in discussions with Apple, and we hope to have a solution soon," he said.

 

Sony BMG is a joint venture between Japan's     Sony Corp (SNE.N) and Germany's Bertelsmann.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/n...a_music_cd_dc_3

 

I really hope SONY BMG won't use this stupid new technology in any new CD from Celine.

 

and I think this is really one of the most stupid technology ever. SONY always spend their money on these kind of stupid things now. no wonder they can't earn profit.

The copy-protection technology is also far from ironclad. Apple    Macintosh users currently face no restrictions at all. What's more, if users go to a Web site to complain about the lack of iPod compatibility, Sony BMG will send them an email with a "back door" measure on how to work around the copy protection.

[Clari]

UGHHHH! > : |

That is SO stupid!!!!!!!!!

[Koolan]

This really blows, people will always find ways to crack the copy protection.

[Kye]

that's crazy if you could make 3 copies couldn't you just make more copies of the cd that was copied? if that made any sense

[Rodrigo in Brazil]

OK, I agree that people will always find a way to crack copy protections. But don't you guys think that technology SHOULD find a way to prevent users from making MP3s and sharing them on p2p programs? I mean, loooots of people prefer to download MP3s instead of buying the CDs and that causes CDs not to sell as much as they should. This is so bad for new artists. I'm talking about album versions. For example, I love downloading MP3s of live performances or rare remixes that are only available in rare singles, but I don't think it's right to make MP3s of album versions. Are you guys against or in favor of MP3s?!

 

See Ya!

Rodrigo.

[Clari]

that's crazy  if you could make 3 copies couldn't you just make more copies of the cd that was copied? if that made any sense 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Haha... that's true because the protection disappears after you burn it.

 

+Jun 22 2005, 12:53 AM-->

OK, I agree that people will always find a way to crack copy protections. But don't you guys think that technology SHOULD find a way to prevent users from making MP3s and sharing them on p2p programs? I mean, loooots of people prefer to download MP3s instead of buying the CDs and that causes CDs not to sell as much as they should. This is so bad for new artists. I'm talking about album versions. For example, I love downloading MP3s of live performances or rare remixes that are only available in rare singles, but I don't think it's right to make MP3s of album versions. Are you guys against or in favor of MP3s?!

 

See Ya!

Rodrigo.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I agree with what you are saying and I like to buy my music legally, but sometimes I like to share my mp3s in order to help people discover certain music so that they can go out and buy the CD/digital tracks. Also it's gonna be quite annoying for us iPod owners and other users with mp3 players that won't support Sony's format. But Kyle made a good point.

 

What's the point of them spending SO much money on extra security if people will find a way to crack it, it better not make the price of the CD go up.

 

I hate the new FBI logo on the back of CDs... it's so UGLY!!!

[Celine's Wife]

ARG, that is so ridiculous... I mean I can see why they would want to and why an artist would want it..... but as someone who prefers to download songs than pay a bunch of money for them I hate the idea....