“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,” John Borland reports for CNET. ‘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.’
Borland reports, “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 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,” Borland reports.
Full article here.
Back in July 2004, we reported on a story from The Register that included, “The two big US copy protection specialists, Macrovision and SunnComm are both touting the idea that they need to become Apple iPod compliant and they might need the help of the big record labels to twist Apple’s arm into helping them.” In August 2004, we reported on another story from the Register that included, “Copy protection provider Macrovision is sufficiently confident that it will be able to incorporate FairPlay support into its CDS-300 copy control that is has begun telling customers that it will add iTunes and iPod support to its software in Q4. According to mailings sent out with the company’s CDS-300 version 7 beta release.”
Also, back in July 2004, Borland reported for CNET, “For the past several years, both SunnComm and rival Macrovision have worked to put two different versions of songs on each protected album. The first set of tunes is a locked-down version of the CD’s content. The second set consists of digital tracks that can be transferred to a computer or to some portable music devices. That ‘second session’ has been filled, to date, with songs in Microsoft’s Windows Media Audio format. Both companies chose the WMA format because it’s supported by virtually every PC on the market, and a large number of different portable players.”
“The decision, which was never warmly embraced by all the major record labels, appeared to give Microsoft the potential for powerful and profitable inroads into the music business. If songs in its format were to be included on every CD, WMA could go a long way toward becoming a de facto digital music standard,” Borland explained. “But the subsequent meteoric rise of the iPod–which does not play Microsoft-formatted music–has forced a change in plans: no more reliance on Microsoft’s technology, no more second session and an appeal to Apple for compatibility.”
Full article here.
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What is this, EMI’s week to issue public statements about their wildest hopes and dreams? First it was, “Steve Jobs will alter iTunes Music Store’s pricing.” Apple: no comment. Now, it’s “Our shitty fake CDs will work with iPods soon!” Apple: We have no idea what they’re on, but it’s gotta be something powerful. What gives, EMI?
Related articles:
EMI chief: Apple’s Steve Jobs may alter iTunes pricing model within the next 12 months [UPDATED] – November 16, 2005
Apple to license FairPlay DRM to Macrovision for use in copy-protected CDs? – August 23, 2004
CD copy protection companies court Apple for Fairplay, may drop Microsoft’s WMA – July 20, 2004
“Can’t we all just get along?” (-Rodney King–criminal)
Again, MDN comments with the intelligence, wisdom, insight and panache of a week old turd…
Remember EMI recently launched their online music store in the UK. They will now be realizing it is a complete flop. Their ONLY hope now is grovel and get in with Apple. As we said before at MDN – idiots.
I personally hope Apple kicks them well and truly in the goolies.
Zondroat:
Totally agree. I often wonder if MDN is run by a few high school geeks who have to write the takes during class and upload them all during study hall. No one is ever right but them.
MDN: piece
“MDN could never write a serious piece of journalism.”
I don’t understand this. Can someone explain? Aren’t all CD’s compatible with iPods. You just RIP them through iTunes and load them on the iPod, right? Or am I missing something here? Does EMI have something on their CD’s that prevent this procedure?
In betwen the compliments to MDN, I’d like to retract my remark above. HMV and not EMI launched a music store in the UK recently!
As for being critical of MDN, if this is the case why do you read the MDN takes guys? At least give them credit for setting up a site that attracts a lot of readers and posters. What have you done today?
Dear Zondroat and yup,
Don’t ever put MDN and the word journalism in the same sentence. You may get arrested for making a false utterance.
br
Scottm4321:
These CD are really data CDs, but they are written in such a way that the CD players don’t thnk they are data CDs. They think they are normal Red Book CDs. (Red Book is the standard for audio CDs.)
If you don’t like the Take, then don’t read it, don’t visit the site or better still, create one of your own so we can pull your site to pieces.
Opinions are like assholes – everybody has one, and they usually stink.
My $0.02
If anyone in the record industry is listening:
I will not knowingly purchase any CDs that have copy protection. If I am given one as a gift it will be exchanged for cash. If you slap your DRM schemes on CD’s, you will just be killing your own best source of income.
You think you are entitled to eternally milk every last cent out of the consumer’s pocket. The baby boomers have been your best customers, getting to buy the same music on potentially:
45 Single, Album, 8-Track, Compact Cassette, CD, Pre-Recorded Mini Disc, Digital Download.
When will the greed end? The file sharers are not stealing– you are.
yup, and yours stinks, too!
Thanks Brian, now it makes sense.
This does seem to point up the key problem with the music industry – it’s run by fools so foolish they think they’re smart. EMI’s clearly running a disinformation campaign in the hope of forcing Apple’s hand – shame it’s so absolutely transparent! They might pull these stunts off with their artists (we have to pay you less royalties on CDs because they’re a new format, etc), but I don’t think it’s going to play the same way with Steve Jobs.
Zondroat = EMI /Sony BMG public relations flack.
What’s the matter, Zondroat, can’t handle the truth?
MDN, keep up the great work!
FYI RIAA
I agree with you….I simply won’t purchase an CD’s with copy protection…the labels are screwing themselves in the long run.
Anyone have an email address for emi?…or even sony corporate???
The burning limit obviousy comes from software that the CD installs on the computer. No way will I buy a CD that does this. I will analog copy from a CD player back into my sound card before I ever put one of these malware CD’s into my drive.
Macaday: “As for being critical of MDN, if this is the case why do you read the MDN takes guys? At least give them credit for setting up a site that attracts a lot of readers and posters. What have you done today?”
And others…a reply to your defending your employer…er, sorry, MDN.
MDN´s takes are for the most part…dumb, knee-jerk,overly head up Apple´s butt, Apple is always right/everyone else is wrong, anti-Apple consumer.
Why do I read their comments? Because they are there. To use your so MDN-like intelligence and wisdom I would ask you: Why do you read my comments if you don´t like them?
As far as what have I done today? (Again, Macaday, the wit and wisdom of MDN.) The answer to your question Macaday: More than you will do in a week or a month.
whats with this MDN bashing lately? if you dont like it then piss off. simple. dont like the editorial? then dont come here.
For all those people whining about the MDN take on stories, no one is forcing you to read this site. This is what MDN does. If you don’t like it, visit some of the boring Mac news sites.
MDN has a tendency to mistake editorialising with hectoring and abuse. Editorials should never contain swear words (as is the case with the latest dose). Far from “pissing off”, myself and others will continue to push for a little bit more decency and professional writing on this web site.
Most of the people who visit and/or contribute to MDN are mac users. Likewise most are decent people. We will not piss of, but we will be the voices of tolerance and reason. The alternative is extremism and that’s something most mac users will not tolerate.
The MDN bashing is due to MDN’s increasingly powerful position in influencing opinion. Analysts, journalists, columnists, and many others read this site. I often see MDN opinions echoed elsewhere. Some are compelled to place some MDN FUD. Note how this site leaves such comments as posted. Sony, Microsoft, and many others have an interest in trying to discount MDN. Also, MDN criticizes Apple when they feel that criticism is warranted. One recent example:
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/7549/
So the plan is to lock the content so your ripping software can’t read it. Run the app included in the CD instead to rip it to DRM’ed AAC.
Hokay, but it takes only one person to burn a backup cd from there, delete his original ripped tracks and rerip a laundered version for a p2p network. In short, you’ve merely inconvenienced the casual sharers that are not the source of your main problem.
Prohibition didn’t work. It just created a large, violent, criminal class; and endangered the security of innocent people – to wit, drugs.
Compete with p2p instead — make it attractive, convenient and economical. Your revenue lost through illegal file sharing is not equal to the number of copies downloaded times a retail price. It is equal to the number of copies that would otherwise have been bought had the “consumer” not elected to steal it, and I submit that the latter is a small fraction of the former. If that’s the case then you can easily recoup more than that loss by competing with p2p.
As for the ones that get away, you can do what the army did in WWII — attribute it to “shipping losses.”
re: bikersrule
Typical scooter-trash mentality
Must be a full moon, the trolls are out tonight!
Macaday said “As for being critical of MDN, if this is the case why do you read the MDN takes guys? At least give them credit for setting up a site that attracts a lot of readers and posters. What have you done today?”
Macaday, I agree 100%. I just wouldn’t have been so, er, polite. I would have told ‘Zondroat’, ‘yup’ and the other trolls to fsk off!
Rock on MDN!
These copy-protection schemes will be easily side-stepped by the music pirates while the average consumer will be left frustrated wondering why he can’t listen to the music he’s just purchased in the way he would like to! I hate you record labels!