November 17, 2005 5:25 PM PST
iPods to support copy-protected CDs?
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For more than a year, the anti-copying technology loaded on some major label compact discs has been compatible only with Windows-based computers. Those CDs have allowed listeners to move digital files onto the computers, but they have not been able to transfer those songs to iPods.
EMI's upcoming copy-protected CDs, which will use technology from Macrovision, and will at last be compatible with iPods, a change nearly a year in the making, the label said.
"Apple is nearly finished with the technical work necessary to enable consumers to transfer music from content-protected discs to their iPods," the label said in a statement detailing its copy-protection plans. "This is an important step for EMI and Apple, but even more so for music consumers who will soon be able to legitimately port music from protected discs they own to the iPod."
However, Apple disputed EMI's characterization of its plans.
"The information EMI provided regarding iTunes and iPod compatibility with Macrovision's technology is not true and we have no idea why EMI made this statement," Apple said in a statement.
If true, the agreement would mark a substantial step forward for advocates of copy-protecting CDs, even as the ongoing controversy over Sony's actions has cast the practice into controversy.
EMI and Sony BMG each have committed to sharply increasing the number of CDs that are protected with technology that limits the number and type of copies that can be made. Each label has been experimenting with different varieties of this technology for several years, in the United States and overseas.
While CD copy protection as a whole has triggered some criticism from fair-use advocates, it is only the latest release from Sony, using technology from British company First 4 Internet, that has become a mainstream controversy.
That software used a powerful programming tool called a "rootkit" to hide virtually all traces of its presence on a hard drive, using a technique favored by virus writers that instantly triggered suspicion from many computer developers. Worse, that tool wound up exposing computers to a variety of dangerous security risks, some of which have already been exploited by virus writers.
Sony has recalled the 4.7 million CDs that included the First 4 Internet software, and has said it will exchange the 2.1 million albums already sold with the technology installed. The company has also released albums using antipiracy technology from Sunncomm, which has not posed the security risks of the First 4 Internet variants.
EMI has been quick to distinguish its plans from Sony's First 4 Internet discs. It is adopting copy-protection tools from Macrovision, which do not install hidden files on PCs and do not download any software without consumers' permission, the label says.
EMI said its CDs will have usage rules similar to songs purchased from the iTunes music store. Consumers will be allowed to "rip" one full copy-protected version of the album to their computer, from which it can be transferred to MP3 players. Three copies of the full disc can be made on blank CDs, and each individual track can be burned to CD seven times.
The discs will also include additional content, such as artwork, artist bios and videos, the label said.
unauthorized distribution of music.
The only function they currently serve is to frustrate consumers
and remove traditional fair-use rights.
A couple more sony fiasco's and maybe they'll realize this. Until
then consumers should not buy them as, it has been shown, they
also may compromise your machine's stability, privacy, and/or
security.
However, if record companies start to restrict the rights to copy cd's, I guess we don't have to pay that fee anymore?
I think it's time we consumers have to seek out the courts, because we have to pay more and more over time for less rights -- somewhere something is not right.
Soulseek here I come.
Copy protection- no thanks! I won't be buying any EMI and Sony BMG music in future. At least there are some labels that aren't doing this kind of thing yet.
Of course CNET will post it anyway. But lets take a step back.
How if the bleeping world doe a media device, that does NOT
have a CD player attatched to it HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
CD copy protected software!? ANSWER ... NOTHING, NADA , ZIP
Ok, so NOW you are going to say you didnt write the article
correctly (OF COURSE YOU DIDNT) and that you meant the DRM
encryption of the song track. Hmmmmm, once again, the iPod
has a list of supported file formats, and if it isn't one of them,
then once again BULL-SHI-T.
I am really, and truly, coming to such a degree disgust for these
slanderous stories .... I wonder, can CNET have the caca SUED
OUT OF THEM FOR PRINTING INTENTIONALLY FALSE
STATEMENTS TO AFFECT THE MARKETPLACE?!!!
However, Apple disputed EMI's characterization of its plans.
"The information EMI provided regarding iTunes and iPod
compatibility with Macrovision's technology is not true and we
have no idea why EMI made this statement," Apple said in a
statement.
NEXT PARAGRAPH: Ignoring Apple's statement totally,
If true, the agreement would mark a substantial step forward for
advocates of copy-protecting CDs, even as the ongoing
controversy over Sony's actions has cast the practice into
controversy.
'IF TRUE'!!!!!!, and it is absolutely NOT true based upon all
evidence so far. CNET is trying to create news, not just report
news.
Next we'll have someone claiming that Apple is thinking about
building a Bridge to Mars, and Apple will say 'no way, no how'
and CNET will say, "if true, it will cut driving time substantially".
Just how dumb can a story get?
this is not true. this was actually my initial concern when record cos. starting publishing these CDs. I thought "what a way to reward your loyal consumers!". and so much for 'fair use". but for some reason, when i loaded these copy-controlled CDs onto iTunes, i had no problem importing the audio. there would be an error message saying, i had to install the program that came w/ the disc but iTunes appears to override it and the importation begins w/ ease. I've also had no problem trasferring these to my iPod or w/ burning these on a blank CD.
Now do the genious of SONY and other music publishing labels will I buy a CD soon? Not even with a twitchy, sweaty publishing exec's finger glued to the trigger of the gun pointed at my head.
Treating consumers as criminals and then going off with the full knowledge that the so-called "technology" can damage computers and then lying about is NOT good business. Consumers have a voice and if you **** us off you'll be doing a Hindenberg.
The technology used by SONY and others is not copy-protection-- it's an annoyance. It can be by-passed in Windows or ignored all together using an Apple or Linux.
Now SONY is doing damage control trying to fill their balloon with helium when the thing already has hydrogen-- good luck.. I already see the flames.