Apple (R)ejects Copy Protection

Frogbeater writes "Apple keeps on keeping on with the anti-copy protection crowd by using their technical info database as a platform for denouncing the artists who are getting on the bandwagon." I like this line from the technote: You may be unable to eject certain copy-protected audio discs, which resemble Compact Discs (CD) but technically are not. Indeed.

Comments

TiBook CD/DVD eject issue

[ubiquitin]

So that's why those CD's weren't ejecting! ;) For the uninitiated, shift-Command-1 on Macs does a force media eject.

Danger Will Robinson...

[h0tblack]

...using come copy-protected cd's in the new flat-panel iMacs can be a VERY expensive mistake. Certain cd's cause the cd drive to jam and then the machine refuses to reboot. This means you have to take it to an Apple Dealer (or do it yourself it you know what your doing) to take the thing apart and manually wind the eject cogs. Seems there's no option for the good old fashioned paper-clip trick with these drives.
More details here:
http://uk.eurorights.org/issues/cd/docs/cel dion.sh tml

Re:Danger Will Robinson...

[tarkap]

You can still do the paperclip trick on a SuperDrive iMac though. Stick it in the right slot under the cd tray.

I just looked at the cdrw model, and yup.. no hole likes the paper clip trick :(

thanks apple.

Certain discs, huh?

[the phantom]

Shakira?
Jennifer Lopez?
Celine Dion?

Wow, I thought it would eject these at the mere thought of having to play them. I almost feel sorry for the poor iMacs that are forced to eat these.

Re:Go Apple!

[davecl]

This isn't all a good thing. If you read to the end of the apple support page, you find the sting in the tail. Since these are not legally CDs, trying to play one in your Mac constitutes improper use. This menas you get to void your warranty and have to pay any repair charges.

Now this is partly apple covering their backside, which is not unreasonable, but it could all get very interesting if someone with a significant repair bill and a lot of annoyance starts firing lawyers from the hip to get someone else to pay. Who will they go for - the record company, the people who devised this particular anti-computer scheme, the artists...

And more importantly, would they have a case???

Getting the CD Out

[The Donald]

I'm worried for all the people out there who are not all that techo savy. If the CD will not eject, then they'll either have to take it out themselves, or bring it to an Apple Repair Shop. Quoting Apple's support page on this:

If a disc with copyrighted protection technology remains inside the drive after following the procedures above, or if the computer does not start up normally, it is recommended that you contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) or Apple Technical Support. CD audio discs that incorporate copyright protection technologies do not adhere to published Compact Disc standards. Apple designs its CD drives to support media that conforms to such standards. Apple computers are not designed to support copyright protected media that do not conform to such standards. Therefore, any attempt to use non standard discs with Apple CD drives will be considered a misapplication of the product. Under the terms of Apple's One-Year Limited Warranty, AppleCare Protection Plan, or other AppleCare agreement any misapplication of the product is excluded from Apple's repair coverage. Because the Apple product is functioning correctly according to its design specifications, any fee assessed by an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple for repair service will not be Apple's responsibility.

Now, for a new user. If you go to Best Buy and puck up a copy of Celine Dion: "A New Day Has Come" (Don't know why, but that's a different story), it will look like a CD, smell like a CD, so to the average user, it's a CD. Just becuase the Disc doesn't have the Compact Disc Logo on it wont mean people will undersand that it's really not a CD.

I think a lot of new users will think Apple is at fault for adhearing to the standards; and expect the problem to be fixed at no cost to them.

Re:Getting the CD Out

[oyenstikker]

"users will think Apple is at fault for adhearing to the standards"

Sad but true. Same people who think Mozilla is at fault for adhereing to the standards and breaking sites written for IE. Same people who think Firestone is at fault for sticking to their tire design and breaking when used with a very badly designed product (You didn't hear about those tires blowing on any of the millions of non-Fords they were on). People accuse the most obvious thing. My browser isn't working, must be the browser. The tire blew up, must be the tire. The CD drive got stuck, must be the CD drive.

Re:Getting the CD Out

[TheAJofOZ]

If some black-hat hackers were stealthily distributing CDs designed to exploit the CD standards to make mechanisms fail, you'd probably say these guys were crooks. But if Sony does the exact same thing, it's the PC manufacturer's fault? Besides, Apple didn't design a one of their CD mechanisms, they are all third-party, and PC drives can be damaged too.

And guess who makes a lot of those CD drives? That's right, it's Sony.... Not sure what's in the new systems, but my B&W G3 came with a Sony CD Rom, my TiBook has a Matshita drive though.

Ironic

[dumbArtMajor]

The following discs are known to use the copy protection:
Shakira: "Laundry Service"
Jennifer Lopez: "J To Tha L-O!"
Celine Dion: "A New Day Has Come"

"These people resemble musicians but technically are not."

Welcome to hell.

[phagstrom]

This must be what hell is like....

Having a Jennifer Lopez CD in the drive and NOT being able to get it out.

I would have to opt for a small tactical nuclear weapon. The CD is getting out of the drive - one way or the other.

Apple sould seek compensation

[WalletBoy]

Apple should at least try to seek some compensation from the RIAA for all the wasted man-hours spent taking support calls for people using these non-standard CDs.

Write a driver, apple.

[cryptochrome]

Boy, if I bought these CDs I'd be pissed. Apple should write a driver to recognize, read, and rip these CDs, just to piss off the RIAA. Breaking the computer is unacceptable.

Seriously now... the tech industry has had to put up with a lot of shit from the (comparatively puny) content industry... if they wanted they could probably kill the music industry in short order by providing tools, lobbying, and anti-marketing. Show 'em who's boss.