[ort888]

MAJOR LABELS TO COPY-PROTECT ALL CDS SOLD IN THE U.S.

By Dawn C. Chmielewski

Mercury News

The record labels are in pursuit of a new class of music pirates -- not the millions who download bootlegged songs over the Internet but those who copy music CDs for their friends.

The music industry considers the seemingly innocuous act of duplicating a music CD for someone else ``casual piracy,'' a practice that surpasses Internet file-sharing as the single largest source of unauthorized music distribution. After fits and starts, the industry's largest players are taking measures to place curbs on copying.

Sony BMG Music Entertainment, home to some of the music industry's biggest acts, including Bruce Springsteen, System of a Down and Shakira, plans to copy-protect all music CDs sold in the United States by the end of the year. Another major label, EMI, whose artist roster includes Coldplay and Norah Jones, will introduce copy-protected CDs in its two largest markets -- the United States and the United Kingdom -- in the coming weeks.

For consumers, it signals an abrupt change to the rip, mix, burn mania embodied by the 2001 Apple Computer ad campaign promoting the first iMac computer with a CD burner and software for creating custom music CDs. These new copy-protected discs limit the number of times people can create copies of music CDs or add individual songs to music mixes.

``You can do with the CD you bought what you do with it if you're within the realm of personal use,'' said Thomas Hesse, Sony BMG's president of global digital business. ``You can burn a copy that you play in your car or a copy that your son plays in his bedroom or make a personal mix. That's fine. That's the way people listen to music these days. If you attempt to burn 20 copies and distribute them to the kids who come to your son's birthday party, that's not possible.''

IPods an issue

Copy protection raises an even bigger problem for the millions of people who own Apple's iPod digital music player and use its iTunes software to organize their music and create custom CDs. Apple has refused to license its FairPlay rights-management software -- even to the labels. That means certain copy-protected CDs won't work with iTunes or the iPod without employing time-consuming work-arounds.

``They do not play on iPods simply because Apple has this proprietary approach,'' said Hesse of Sony BMG's copy-protected CDs. ``We would be willing and able to put'' FairPlay ``on CDs in an instant if Steve Jobs would flick the switch and allow us to do that.''

Apple refused to comment. However, well-placed sources within the music industry said the computer maker is still in active discussions with the labels to find a solution.

``We're working with all the major digital portable music players out there and our goal this year is to make them 100 percent compatible, so that when you put your disc into your computer, what opens up is your standard portable player interface,'' said Peter Jacobs, president and chief executive of SunnComm International, whose technology protects Sony BMG discs.

The music labels have been experimenting with various forms of copy protection since 2001. But early attempts yielded embarrassing results: The CDs didn't play in all stereos or computers.

The labels say such technical glitches are a thing of the past. EMI has distributed more than 127 million copy-protected discs in 48 countries with few customer complaints.

``The technologies we're testing have matured to the point where consumers can play, rip, burn and in some cases share their music with others while still protecting the intellectual property of EMI's artists,'' wrote Richard Cottrell, the label's head of anti-piracy in an instant message.

First CDs a success

The industry has been emboldened by Sony BMG's success with the first copy-protected release from a major act. Velvet Revolver's June 2004 release of ``Contraband'' topped the Billboard charts and ended up selling more than 7 million copies worldwide. It suggested consumers were willing to accept copying curbs that mirrored those of the digital download stores.

Now, half of Sony BMG's new releases -- including the Dave Matthews Band's million-selling ``Stand Up'' -- are protected. All new CDs will be copy-protected by year's end.

EMI will test various copy-protection technologies in different parts of the world, starting with trials in the U.K. that began this week.

The copy protection technologies from SunnComm, Macrovision and Sony DADC differ in subtle ways. There are, however, some similarities. Many come with two sets of recorded music -- songs in the unprotected format that plays whenever the disc is inserted into a CD or DVD player, and a separate ``session'' of compressed, copy-protected files that open when the disc is inserted into a computer.

SunnComm's newest technology doesn't require two recording sessions on a disc. It adds the copy protection to the music on the fly, in whatever format the labels choose: Windows Media or Sony's ATRAC. SunnComm discs will also play on Macs. That's not true for the Macrovision technology behind EMI's copy protection.

On the PC, a message appears that asks the buyer for permission to install a piece of software on the desktop. Answer no, and the disc is ejected. It won't play. Once installed, the software regulates how often people can rip a full copy of the CD to the computer, burn individual tracks or make full copies of each album. EMI, for example, will permit the consumer to upload an album once per computer, burn individual tracks seven times and make up to three full copies of each CD.

A challenge for Apple

This not only prevents people from making endless dubs of CDs for friends, it potentially dries up the leading source of unprotected MP3 music files that feed the Internet file-sharing networks.

The move to embrace copy protection could boost Apple's online music rivals, such as Napster or Yahoo Music, which are based on Microsoft's technology, according to Paul-Jon McNealy, an analyst with American Technology Research in San Francisco.

Apple has three choices: do nothing and gamble that consumers will be so annoyed with copy protection, they'll stop buying music CDs; license its FairPlay technology; or embrace the technology of its longstanding rival, Microsoft, said McNealy.

Michael McGuire, research director for GartnerG2 in San Jose, said it's too soon to predict how copy protection will impact consumers who use iPod and iTunes. But it could prompt some consumers to stop buying CDs and go online for their music purchases.

``Are these people likely to write angry letters to the editor or to Sir Howard, registering disgust?'' said McGuire, referring to Sony's new chief executive, Howard Stringer. ``No. They'll find it somewhere else.''

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/11898486.htm

[Mastrap]

These people are idiots. Copy protection will always be cracked.
I don't agree with large scale piracy, but I disagree even less with assuming that the consumer is a criminal in the first place.

[timehoc]

I wonder what would happen if the music industry simply moved to electronic transfer. Maybe jackup the price of CDs to $25 bucks for the convenience of a physical format...and force the mass media to purchase everything through yahoo/itunes/napster to "curb" piracy.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by timehoc

I wonder what would happen if the music industry simply moved to electronic transfer. Maybe jackup the price of CDs to $25 bucks for the convenience of a physical format...and force the mass media to purchase everything through yahoo/itunes/napster to "curb" piracy.

Err thanks but no thanks. I like my music on CD.

[budster101]

I'll just buy more from iTUNES... can only help downloading.

If I buy a CD I should be able to copy it and make a backup. Sony VCR debate all over again.
You can download and make as many CDs as you want...

[Mastrap]

True. I can't remember the last time I bought a CD. It's either download or maybe back to vinyl. That'll teach them.

[CollinG3G4]

Blah BLah blah... Every 6 months the music industry develops a new miracle technology to defeat piracy, and a few days later, it's cracked.

They just don't get it.

[Link]

If I buy a CD, several things had better be in effect:
1. Everyone in my household can play it
2. I can make as many copies into as many forms as I wish
3. The CD must not come from Sony BMG (I think Sony = criminals), they shouldn't be allowed to sell their garbage electronics in the US anyway.

[screamingFit]

Do the major labels even have an artist worth copying?

[Big Mac]

For those of us who missed coverage of the Velvet Revolver trial balloon as it relates to iTunes (at least the PC version), here's a good article to look at. The author of piece states he prefers to have the full package and full quality provided by CDs, which is a valid argument (made even more rational by the price reductions from the major labels). Anyway, it turns out that when that CD is inserted, Windows Auto Play allows MediaMax CD 3 software to surreptitiously install a driver that garbles any ripping attempt. It also opens a browser window with instructions for ripping DRM-encoded WMP versions of the tracks. However, Windows Auto Play can be disabled by holding Shift while mounting a disc. More importantly, the disc also apparently restricts OS X usage through a similar Auto Start exploit (which means it's probably a good idea to set "Music CD" to Ignore in the CD and DVDs pane, since I can't find any information on the Mac driver installed by the disc). A grad student published this information and was initially threatened with a lawsuit by SunnComm for allegedly violating the DMCA. SunnComm quickly backed down when it realized how ridiculous such a suit would appear. (If anyone has investigated the OS X version of this MediaMax driver, it would be interesting to know more about it. I haven't been able to dig up any specifics thus far.)

I totally missed this news since 90% of the music I buy comes from iTunes (and I don't buy much to begin with). I know I, along with most of us, am not part of the regular music buying public. These new copy protection schemes do pose a significant threat to the digital lifestyle embraced by nerd and jock alike. SunnComm is the lesser of the evils since a) at least they attempt to include the Mac with their malware, and b) their "solution" is easily circumvented. The other schemes are not Mac-compatible and may not be as easily circumvented. Besides, we must remember that many of the purchasers of these CDs will not be savvy enough to look for the bypass. It will be interesting to see how Apple responds.

[Big Mac]

Did I kill this thread? (pretext for a cheap bump)

[budster101]

I would love to go back to vinyl. I cannot stand CDs. Go vinyl to MP3 direct...!!!


Who's with me! <Jerry McQuire>

[Link]

I really don't like vinyl... it's scratchy and wears out... sure it's cool because it's retro and all but the little grooves scare me.

[Superchicken]

Fah, this is why I'm glad I'm progressively moving all my purchasing to iTunes. I'm actually finding I'm less inclined to buy music from what used to be my favourite label. But they're like NEVER putting stuff on the Canadian iTMS or by the time they do I wanted the album so much that I just went out and paid 20 bucks for it instead of the 12 bucks on iTunes. So I'm actually thinking my next purchases are going to be by a bunch of bands I heard about off flicker, I'd like to get both Every Day Sunday CDs, I'm thinking of getting a Sub Seven album, and there's several from smaller labels.
But this whole thing is frustrating... why is it that so many labels view their customers as people to tell bend over and shove copy protection up their...

By the way, this sort of use as defined by Canadian copyright law is FAIR USE! So long as I don't charge you I can give you my entire CD collection for free! That said I don't think this is a good practice and most people won't do it. But this sort of abuse of customers and trying to rework the legal system of the place you're in, and if you can't then to bugger with people's rights in other ways pisses me off!

[JoshuaZ]

Casual copying? Is that like casual sex. If so, guilty on both counts.

[Athens]

its pretty dam easy to plug a discman into the line in of a computer and to rip the songs full quality that way, its just not as fast as ripping the CD itself. These attempts are just stupid.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by Athens

its pretty dam easy to plug a discman into the line in of a computer and to rip the songs full quality that way, its just not as fast as ripping the CD itself. These attempts are just stupid.

The only downside being that this method is far from "full quality"...

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

The only downside being that this method is far from "full quality"...

Yeah, full quality is definitely not the term to use for analog conversion.

[screamingFit]

If you used high-quality cables and sound card and recorded the incoming signal as high resolution .aiff or .wav, it would be hard for a normal person to discern the difference between the coverted and CD audio.

I did this awhile ago with a treasured CD that was starting to rust and wouldn't rip. Even playing back through my Mackie studio monitors I couldn't tell a difference - and this is an acoustically tuned studio, too. Of course, your average user probably wouldn't go through the time or trouble to do an analog "rip" but sonically, my ears can't hear a difference.

[Krusty]

I wonder how much money the recording industry has wasted on attempts to stop copying? Do you suppose its more or less than the amount of money they lose from people copying ?? I'll stop copying my CDs the day they produce an indestructible CD that won't ever scratch or go bad. Until then, its only reasonable to rip my CDs into iTunes and re-spawn it into whatever format I need from there ... and put the original "pristine" CD back away in its case.

Its funny that they'll allow songs to be played on radio on MTV but are going after the casual copier. Casual copying is probably one of the best marketing tools they have for creating buzz around an album and its free.

[cacarr1]

Originally Posted by Link

3. The CD must not come from Sony BMG (I think Sony = criminals), they shouldn't be allowed to sell their garbage electronics in the US anyway.

Amen to that!
I have had nothing but problems with the Sony products I've purchased over the past couple of years...

[ShotgunEd]

Originally Posted by Krusty

I wonder how much money the recording industry has wasted on attempts to stop copying? Do you suppose its more or less than the amount of money they lose from people copying ?? I'll stop copying my CDs the day they produce an indestructible CD that won't ever scratch or go bad. Until then, its only reasonable to rip my CDs into iTunes and re-spawn it into whatever format I need from there ... and put the original "pristine" CD back away in its case.

Yes, or for the companies to offer a media replacement program with freepost addresses. So if your CD gets mangled, you can get a shiny new one for no cost.

[Nivag]

Originally Posted by budster101

I would love to go back to vinyl. I cannot stand CDs. Go vinyl to MP3 direct...!!!


Who's with me! <Jerry McQuire>

i'm with you!!

i'm looking to get this

The Stanton STR8.150, apparently it can be plugged straight into a Mac or PC - hopefully checking one out next week. i'm trying to get some old 78s of my dads and some 45s of mine converted to the digital world.

[Mastrap]

Very nice deck. I too am seriously thinking about forgetting about CDs and buying vinyl again. What I cannot get on vinyl I buy from download services like emusic.com and forget about DRM completely.

[budster101]

Vinyl sounds better, by far. Create your own CDs from the master vinyl and then store the vinyl. It is one of the only very few formats you can archive without loss of data.

VInyl is groovy man.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by Nivag

The Stanton STR8.150, apparently it can be plugged straight into a Mac or PC - hopefully checking one out next week. i'm trying to get some old 78s of my dads and some 45s of mine converted to the digital world.

From a review:

Also included are a pair of RCA line outputs for connection to inputs that don't have phono preamps, as well as a S/PDIF jack for hooking up the deck to digital mixers or directly into digital recording devices like DAT players and computer soundcards.

Let us know how you get on with it. You can get if under $500.00 now, which is excellent value.

[chris v]

These morans are digging their own graves, still. How deep does the hole need to be? I, for one, will continue my boycott of the majors, and don't forget, folks-- if it's copy-protected, it's not a CD!

The other thing that will get their attention is if you purchase these things, then return them to the store as defective. "It won't play on my CD player... which is in my computer. It's obviously not a CD."

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by screamingFit

Do the major labels even have an artist worth copying?

The real issue. Personally, I don't pirate music. Not because I have any moral issue with it, but because I don't see anything available on the P2Ps worth pirating, much less buying. Most of the music I listen to is from small groups/singers that don't make it to the P2Ps.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by Krusty

I wonder how much money the recording industry has wasted on attempts to stop copying? Do you suppose its more or less than the amount of money they lose from people copying ??

My money is on More

[Mastrap]

The problem is that the majority of people, like my parents and other non-geeks, will never know the difference, much less what to do about it.

Personally I haven't bought anything from the major labels for years and have no intention of doing so ever again if I can help it.

[typoon]

It's starting to seem like the ones running the record company are as dumb as a bunch of Rocks. Well maybe not. That would be an insult to the bunch of Rocks.'

They keep insisting on shooting themselves in the foot and each time they succeed in doing such. If there was any good music out they might sell more CD's it's starting to seem like only the old timers of the music industry are still making any good music worth listening to. If they made it more compelling to buy a CD it might stop some of this. Also if there was any GOOD music out these days it might reduce it as well.

[Wiskedjak]

The thing about the recording industry is that they don't want to sell good music. Good music is expensive to make; you need song writers spending more than 10 minutes on a song. What they want to do is invest in one or two good songs and use them to sell 10 or 12 bad songs.

[chris v]

Originally Posted by typoon

It's starting to seem like the ones running the record company are as dumb as a bunch of Rocks. Well maybe not. That would be an insult to the bunch of Rocks.'

Are rocks dumber than fence posts? Because if they're not, you run the risk of offending the fence posts too.

[Zimphire]

That is what happens when greed is your only motivation.

[barang]

Originally Posted by Athens

its pretty dam easy to plug a discman into the line in of a computer and to rip the songs full quality that way, its just not as fast as ripping the CD itself. These attempts are just stupid.

Some CD players have an optical line out, right? What about using an optical ine into your G5? I've often wondered about this, but never had a chance to try it.

[storer]

It's fine for all of you to say that you can just buy it off of iTunes, but a lot of countries still don't have iTunes yet.

[doucy2]

Originally Posted by Link

If I buy a CD, several things had better be in effect:
1. Everyone in my household can play it
2. I can make as many copies into as many forms as I wish
3. The CD must not come from Sony BMG (I think Sony = criminals), they shouldn't be allowed to sell their garbage electronics in the US anyway.

get your facts straight
#3 sony makes parts for mac
mac are not garbage

i do however agree with your first two statments

[dav]

Originally Posted by budster101

Vinyl sounds better, by far. Create your own CDs from the master vinyl and then store the vinyl. It is one of the only very few formats you can archive without loss of data.

VInyl is groovy man.

vinyl has it's own set of problems, give me non-DRM cds.

[budster101]

Wait. You mean playing an LP directly into your machine and then creating your own master CD is not as good? You only have to do this once and then store the record for all eternity.

CD's degrade over time. LPs do not. I am also now wondering about my DVD movies...

[Kristoff]

I'll just chime in here to say that I haven't bought a CD since the day ITMS launched. Go ME!!!

[tujucrue]

Do you all want to know a trick to sticking it to the record labels? Buy from the independent labels. Don't give up buying CD's. Just buy them from the independent artist working for peanuts. You may have never heard of them but you might just be surprised as to how good they actually are.

[MayaMastery]

Funny how stupid these anti piracy idiots are. all they are doing is exploiting and hassling the real customers that dont giive a crap about pirating, and only wnat to hear th emusic they bought in their own computer. th epirates know what the hell theya re doing. and once 1 CD is ripped, ITS EVERYWHERE. it dont take millions of people ripping music and distributing it to get on a p2p. if these companie swould just shoot the problem where it lies, then no one would have to steal music. problem is that CD's are way to expensive, and we were told they would ocme down in price years ago. NEVER HAPPENED. Basically thes eocmpanies would rather have the gold plated toilet seats and a ferrari instead of teh platinum toilet seats and a McKlaren. it all comes down to greed.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by tujucrue

Do you all want to know a trick to sticking it to the record labels? Buy from the independent labels. Don't give up buying CD's. Just buy them from the independent artist working for peanuts. You may have never heard of them but you might just be surprised as to how good they actually are.

I actually think this is an hopeless argument. What if you like some of the music that the big labels sell ? Nobody will buy music they don't like from an independant just because of these anti pircacy stuff, just for the sake of screwing the big labels. I know that I wouldn't change my taste in music. Also keep in mind that most people don't care about copy protected CDs, they just buy them anyway.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by budster101

CD's degrade over time. LPs do not. I am also now wondering about my DVD movies...

CD-Rs degrade, pressed CDs do not.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

The only downside being that this method is far from "full quality"...

no the only downside to it is you have to listen to all the songs well play them all in real time, 70min CD is 70min to record. Otherwise it IS full quality.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

CD-Rs degrade, pressed CDs do not.

Orginal Pressed CD's have a life span of 30 years, the ones made in the 80's, Pressed CD's from the 90s is estimated to have a life span of 50 years. Current CDs its estimated to have a life span of 100 years same with DVD's. They do not last forever.

[Athens]

I buy more movies then I do Music, why because I can get the movies far cheaper. If music CD's where say 10.00 a pop, I would be buying one every few days like I do with movies.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by Athens

I buy more movies then I do Music, why because I can get the movies far cheaper. If music CD's where say 10.00 a pop, I would be buying one every few days like I do with movies.

From where are you obtaining cheap movies? CDs are cheaper than hollywood movies, at least.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by Athens

Orginal Pressed CD's have a life span of 30 years, the ones made in the 80's, Pressed CD's from the 90s is estimated to have a life span of 50 years. Current CDs its estimated to have a life span of 100 years same with DVD's. They do not last forever.

And vinyl warps with temperature change a lot more easily than plastic and metal. No medium is perfect or lasts "forever." If we're talking about professional archiving, then I'm honestly not sure what music medium would last longest. But for the purposes of personal archiving, I would go with CDs because they are more convenient than vinyl and they last long "enough" (ie, your lifespan).

[Athens]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

From where are you obtaining cheap movies? CDs are cheaper than hollywood movies, at least.

Futureshop usally, they always have good deals on for movies that are a couple years old. 2 for $22.00, 3 for $35.00, 7.99, 8.99, 9.99.

www.futureshop.ca