Newest Audio CD DRM Proves Ineffective

The Importance of writes "As noted previously, a couple of weeks ago BMG released a new CD by Anthony Hamilton that included DRM. Slashdot readers speculated that the system wouldn't work. Now there is a report proving it doesn't work by Alex Halderman, a graduate student at Princeton's computer science department and the author of an earlier, definitive report (PDF, HTML version) on first generation CD copy protection. Famed computer scientist Ed Felten asks: "Is this the end of the road for CD copy protection?" His answer? "It ought to be.""

Comments

When an audio CD installs a driver

[16K Ram Pack]

It's perhaps time for me to call the police to report an infringement of the Computer Misuse Act.

No audio CD should be installing *ANYTHING* on my PC, unless I'm aware of it at first.

pick one

[Anonymous Custard]

1.2. Your rights to use the Digital Content are conditioned on your ownership of a license to use and possession of the original Compact Disc (CD) media and are terminated in the event you no longer own or possess the original CD media. (This apparently prohibits using copied tracks as backups in case the original disc is lost, stolen, or destroyed.)

So if the CD fails to remain usable through normal wear and tear, does that put the publisher in breach of contract? They've effectively granted me a license that they are going to renege on should the physical media degrade.

They've got to make up their minds! Is it a physical good, or a digital good? Did I buy a license and the CD was just a nice way for them to fulfill their promise that I'm licensed to use the content? Did I buy a plastic disc (for $15) which I'm free to do with as I please?

Re:Wow, it's as if they didn't even try...

[NanoGator]

"This is about as effective as putting a sticker on the front that says 'Pretty please do not attempt to extract data from this CD on your computer'."

Gotta wonder, why hasn't the RIAA tried putting little "Do's and Dont's" pamphlet in CDs? I mean, seriously, the RIAA has done *nothing* to educate people about what's legal and what isn't. This is why people are appearing in court with a surprised expression on their faces. If the RIAA, ages ago, had insisted that record labels put little pamphlets in their CD's saying "please don't copy and give to a friend", then their stance would be a little easier to handle.

The RIAA says their problems are because everybody's a thief, I say the RIAA's problems are a direct result of their own ignorance. At least the movie industry is smart enough to put a list of don't on every movie. Interestingly enough, there aren't as many DVD rips out there.