Sony BMG tests technology to limit CD burning...

[Zim Hosein]

NEW YORK (Billboard) - As part of its mounting U.S. rollout of content-enhanced and copy-protected CDs, Sony BMG Music Entertainment is testing technology solutions that bar consumers from making additional copies of burned CD-R discs.

Since March the company has released at least 10 commercial titles -- more than 1 million discs in total -- featuring technology from U.K. anti-piracy specialist First4Internet that allows consumers to make limited copies of protected discs, but blocks users from making copies of the copies.

The concept is known as "sterile burning." And in the eyes of Sony BMG executives, the initiative is central to the industry's efforts to curb casual CD burning.

"The casual piracy, the school yard piracy, is a huge issue for us," says Thomas Hesse, president of global digital business for Sony BMG. "Two-thirds of all piracy comes from ripping and burning CDs, which is why making the CD a secure format is of the utmost importance."

Names of specific titles carrying the technology were not disclosed. The effort is not specific to First4Internet. Other Sony BMG partners are expected to begin commercial trials of sterile burning within the next month.

To date, most copy protection and other digital rights management-based solutions that allow for burning have not included secure burning.

Early copy-protected discs as well as all Digital Rights Management (DRM)-protected files sold through online retailers like iTunes, Napster and others offer burning of tracks into unprotected WAV files. Those burned CDs can then be ripped back onto a personal computer minus a DRM wrapper and converted into MP3 files.

Under the new solution, tracks ripped and burned from a copy-protected disc are copied to a blank CD in Microsoft's Windows Media Audio format. The DRM embedded on the discs bars the burned CD from being copied.

"The secure burning solution is the sensible way forward," First4Internet CEO Mathew Gilliat-Smith says. "Most consumers accept that making a copy for personal use is really what they want it for. The industry is keen to make sure that is not abused by making copies for other people that would otherwise go buy a CD."

Sony BMG tests technology to limit CD burning

Anyone come across these CD's yet?

 

[Goosemaster]

I do this with my purchasesd itunes stuff to use when video editing....I bet a lot of people do.....I will rasie muthfvkign hell if they don't let me do that....

 

[myusername]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Under the new solution, tracks ripped and burned from a copy-protected disc are copied to a blank CD in Microsoft's Windows Media Audio format.

yea, whatever

 

[phillc]

My bet is that they include .wma files on the CD you purchase. When you put it in your CD-ROM, a small program auto-runs, blocks your access to the Red Book audio files, and only lets you have .wma files. They are DRMed to your computer. If your burn a copy, WMP burns them as DRMed .wma files, and it is keyed to only work on your computer.

This is not the first time this has been done. It's not that great of a technology either, because access the Red Book audio files is not that hard. They have to install software to break your CD-Roms functionality.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: phillc
My bet is that they include .wma files on the CD you purchase. When you put it in your CD-ROM, a small program auto-runs, blocks your access to the Red Book audio files, and only lets you have .wma files. They are DRMed to your computer. If your burn a copy, WMP burns them as DRMed .wma files, and it is keyed to only work on your computer.

This is not the first time this has been done. It's not that great of a technology either, because access the Red Book audio files is not that hard. They have to install software to break your CD-Roms functionality.

Which sucks. They need to improve on improving pay services.

Itunes is great and legal but has so much potential.

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: myusername

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Under the new solution, tracks ripped and burned from a copy-protected disc are copied to a blank CD in Microsoft's Windows Media Audio format.

yea, whatever

LOL

 

[PaidLess]

..... paying for music suxors ... especially if there only like 3 good songs on it .. paying for a 17$ CD for 3 good songs is a waste of money ... and buying it from itunes ... well thats another story ...

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: PaidLess
..... paying for music suxors ... especially if there only like 3 good songs on it .. paying for a 17$ CD for 3 good songs is a waste of money ... and buying it from itunes ... well thats another story ...

Then use an online service. Or Half.com

 

[jpeyton]

A few things to note before people here go crazy:

1)CD copy protection is meant to prevent casual piracy (in other words, n00b piracy). Quite simply, they are putting up a roadblock that most casual users won't try to bypass. Most of us enthusiasts can bypass it using shareware (currently available, and future releases).
2)CD copy protection never will be fool-proof. Why? Because the format lends itself to easy piracy. If companies want to prevent piracy of retail music, they will need a new format and transport (much like how high-definition devices are moving to the HDMI standard).
3)Moving to a new format for retail music is a double-edged sword...the technology is around to make piracy very difficult, but at the same time, you're going to throw the world in revolt over replacing the universally popular/accepted redbook audio CD.

 

[0roo0roo]

more reason to boycott sony. f*ck u sony <^>

 

[edmicman]

so how does it work? it won't let you use nero to copy the cd? what happens if you try and use eac and lame to rip mp3s? i haven't run across any of these, but i don't understand how it keeps you from just copying the cd using whatever burning program you might use. how does it work??