iPod-compatible copy protected CDs from EMI

The EMI group has announced that it will be producing copy protected CDs that will contain music capable of being stored and played on Apple Computer's iPod music player. One of the main complaints from consumers about CDs protected with some form of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology is that so far iPod owners have been left in the dark, whereas users with MP3 players with Windows Media DRM support could transfer music to the devices. The music labels blamed Apple for this problem and in some cases, even offered work-around instructions to unsatisfied consumers.

Now EMI's new copy protected CDs will use technology from Macrovision, and will at least be compatible with iPods. "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. "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." Apple however, wasn't pleased with how EMI's statement details how these copy protected CDs will be iPod-compatible.

"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," the company said in a statement. If this is true though, it is a step forward for supported of copy protected CDs who have taken much criticism due to the lack of iPod compatibility so far. Of course, Sony BMG has blackened the name of "DRM" after deciding to use XCP, a DRM technology developed by UK-based First4Internet.

The rootkit-like installation and file cloaking techniques it used were frowned upon by many experts and anti-virus firms and it ultimately made Windows installations much less secure by allowing virus writers to hide files in the operating system easily. Sony BMG has since recalled 4.7 million CDs that contain XCP and has offered a swap deal to owners of the 2.1 million CDs already sold.

Source:
News.com

Written by: James Delahunty @ 20 Nov 2005 20:11

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6 comments

Rikoshay

Hahahahaha! Suckers!

21.11.2005 15:10 #1

A_Klingon

It would seem apparent now that the global music corps aren't going to give up on copy-protected music cds.

Like taxes and cancer, DRM is, apparently, going to make our lives forever miserable. The standardized, ongoing, systematic corruption of the established red-book standard, even by those who invented it in the first place (hello, Sony), is now the new de facto standard.

I will call it the new black-book standard.

I haven't purchased a (standard) music cd in over 5 years, and it looks like another 5 years will pass before I'll even consider it again.

Yet, it seems to me that all of this weighty DRM baggage is ONLY going to make the world just that more determined to first *crack* (rip) the tracks from these bum discs, through whatever means possible, then immediately POST them online (P2P; Bit Torrent) for download all over the Net. Many people will do this just out of SPITE. Hence, P2P is only going to shove DRM and copy-protected discs right back in their (RIAA's) face.

Despite the RIAA's attempts to squash P2P, you and I both know it's here to stay. The RIAA may continue to make individual people's lives miserable, but they will never succeed in squashing P2P.

Can't be done.

Because of their continual attempts at the destruction of Fair Use Rights, something that has been with us since the music cd ever first saw the light of day, they (the RIAA) have earned the worldwide scorn and loathing they so richly deserve.

Go ahead. Bring on your DRM and copy-crippled discs. We'll all be downloading them sometime tomorrow morning.

22.11.2005 00:48 #2

DVDBack23

Quote:Go ahead. Bring on your DRM and copy-crippled discs. We'll all be downloading them sometime tomorrow morning.Amen.

22.11.2005 07:03 #3

ireland

just info

Two 360s taken in Virginia armed robbery
Consoles taken at gunpoint just hours ago; thief apprehended, consoles recovered.

A Stafford, Virginia, Electronics Boutique store was the scene of an armed robbery this morning. According to sources, the perpetrator made off with two Xbox 360 systems, forcing the store manager to hand them over at gunpoint.

Sources tell GameSpot the local police responded quickly, cordoned off the store, and immediately pursued the thief. The thief was apprehended shortly afterward.

Because the police consider the heist an ongoing criminal investigation, store employees were reluctant to discuss details of the robbery. But as of press time, the store is open, and all systems are back to normal.

"We're all fine, and everything is cool," a store staffer told GameSpot.
By Curt Feldman -- GameSpot
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6140176.html

22.11.2005 07:32 #4

whoozhe

When are these idiots going to realize that there is no 100% full proof copy protection. They may make it harder but it only takes one person to play a song via their Ipod through the sound card, record it, save it as an mp3 and bingo mass downloads.
Give it up record companies. You have lost the war.

23.11.2005 14:52 #5

duckNrun

there is a reason that a criminal is called a criminal and that reason is that he breaks the law. If to date someone hasn't had an issue with pirating movies or music, is it reasonable to presume that by forcing crippled and DRM infected media to your honest customers, that this will stop the thief from being a thief??

Thats like anti-gun laws. If a crook wants a gun he will get one regardless of the law while the honest citizen will not buy one. In fact criminals LOVE anti-gun laws... it makes their job of robbing you alot SAFER. (lol)

But then this whole premise requires that the RIAA and MPAA are actually reasonable... a state of being that so far seems to elude them!

24.11.2005 22:10 #6

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