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Longhorn's Copy Protection Standard

hype7 writes "The Register is reporting that Microsoft have attempted to force a last-minute CD protection standard on the recording industry in order to ship it in Longhorn. From the article: "Any such deal would see Microsoft support 'an industry-wide copy control platform' built in to its next-generation Longhorn operating system, with the computer giant instructing labels that the compatible secure CDs must contain additional multimedia content, such as bonus tracks, 'as a quid pro quo for adding effective [DRM] into the consumer experience'". It looks like everyone except the consumer is going to win on this one - Microsoft controls the secure format, the RIAA gets a secure format, and the consumer loses all their rights for the "quid pro quo" of a bonus track."

16 of 558 comments (clear)

  1. bad news for macintosh by denlin · · Score: 5, Informative

    Since copy-protected discs are not standard CDs, Apple Computer says they are not meant to be played on its products. In addition, repairs required to undo damage caused by such discs may not be covered by its warranties.

    Apple designs its CD drives to support media that conforms to (published Compact Disc) standards. Therefore, any attempt to use nonstandard 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 Apple Care agreements, any misapplication of the product is excluded from Apple's repair coverage.

    Some copy-protected audio discs are causing Mac OS computers to start to a gray screen. In some cases, the discs will not easily eject from the computer.

    --
    Yes, I have RTFA. Yes, I have a girlfriend. Yes, I'm new here. And no, I don't want a free iPod.
  2. Re:Encryption Circumvention Devices? by crimethinker · · Score: 5, Informative
    As long as it can be played on a regular audio CD player, I can still rip it. Of course, that would assume that I buy CD's, which I don't. Not because of P2P, but because, almost without exception, all the stuff the RIAA is pushing is crap. Unlistenable crap. I just rely on my existing collection for music, sometimes picking up CD's directly from bands' websites (fuck you, RIAA, no cut for you) or mp3.com back when it existed. I can't even listen to the radio any more it's such shite.

    The copy protection will be defeated, just like any safe can be opened, it's just a matter of time and effort. So let's go ahead and crack their safe, and when we get the huge steel door open, we'll find the safe contains a bright and shiny TURD.

    What's the point of preventing people from copying shitty music?

    -paul

    --
    Pistol caliber is like religion: everyone has their favourite, and theirs is the only right choice.
  3. IANAL by TeaQuaffer · · Score: 3, Informative

    nor so I speak Latin, so I didn't know that Quid Pro Quo means "An equal exchange or substitution." ( American Heritage )

    --
    Sola Deo Gloria!
  4. Re:I don't see the logic by Maestro4k · · Score: 5, Informative
    • There is always another way to rip the audio from CDs. So Microsoft builds copy protection into their OS. Who cares. It wont stop me from making backups of my CDs.
    It could actually, or at least make it extremely difficult. The article says it's not clear what method Microsoft is pushing but it could be the "Secure Audio Path" concept (which would protect content all the way to a computer's speakers, making it impossible to make digital copies by recording from the soundcard). In that case Microsoft would likely mandate hardware changes or hardware wouldn't be certified as usable with Longhorn or simply Longhorn would refuse to accept it. Even if you use Linux if all the hardware you get enforces the copy protection in the hardware it's going to make it really difficult to rip the audio from those CDs.
  5. Sources for New Music by APDent · · Score: 2, Informative

    ...almost without exception, all the stuff the RIAA is pushing is crap. Unlistenable crap. I just rely on my existing collection for music, sometimes picking up CD's directly from bands' websites (fuck you, RIAA, no cut for you) or mp3.com back when it existed. I can't even listen to the radio any more it's such shite.

    I agree about mainstream-marketed music. I do still find new music that I like, but mainly through other sources. I'll sound like an Amazon-shill for saying this, but after rating a few of my favorite CDs at Amazon, they've been pretty good at finding other stuff that I like and sometimes end up buying.

    Also, the NPR radio station KCRW in Santa Monica, California, plays some interesting new music during their Morning Becomes Eclectic program. Certainly not everyone's taste, but new, fairly diverse, and generally not mainstream. If you're not lucky enough to live within range of their antennae, they broadcast on the web in MP3, RealAudio and Windows Media formats. There's a simulcast, a news-only stream, and a music-only stream.

  6. Re:garage bands by gorre · · Score: 5, Informative
    Places to buy music:
    Radio stations: Please add more suggestions (or point out if any of these outlets suck).
    --
    "Madness is something rare in individuals - but in groups, parties, peoples, ages it is the rule." -- Nietzsche
  7. Shameless plug by Brightest+Light · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why don't you give Magnatune a try? They have a decent selection of music, you can download the albums as many times as you like in quite a few formats (including FLAC and straight up WAV), and best of all...they're not the RIAA.

  8. Re:And this will work how exactly? by Otto · · Score: 2, Informative

    The recent "Let It Be ... Naked" CD has some sort of copy protection on it that, under XP at least, it wont play except through a piece of software the CD installs for you.

    1. Never install the software on the disc. This is critical, as sometimes they install drivers that intentionally mess with ripping operations. If you have installed it, remove it.

    2. Use ExactAudioCopy to rip the disc. Sometimes you have to use the Advanced functionality it offers to be able to read the disc.

    In this particular case, EAC will read the disc fine if you enable Actions -> TOC Alterations -> Detect TOC Manually. One of the tracks will be a data track which you can ignore, the rest of the tracks will be audio, which should rip fine (if you remove the malware that the disc may install on your machine).

    --
    - Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set him on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
  9. Re:And this will work how exactly? by Frank+T.+Lofaro+Jr. · · Score: 3, Informative

    Your post is a violation of USA law under the DMCA. It provides information on ("trafficking in") circumvention.

    --
    Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!
  10. "Janus" by exhilaration · · Score: 5, Informative
    They don't specify, thought I'm sure Microsoft would like it to be Janus:
    Microsoft's Janus DRM Software Officially Unveiled (4/5/03)
    Microsoft Preps 'Janus' Music Copy-Prevention Scheme (4/2/04)
    1. Re:"Janus" by pchan- · · Score: 2, Informative

      it seems appropriate that microsoft would name their drm scheme after the two-faced greek god. their previous (now scrapped) drm project before janus was named "mercury", a highly toxic metal.

  11. Re:And this will work how exactly? by jawtheshark · · Score: 2, Informative
    Never install the software on the disc.

    No... That's wrong: never install software from an untrusted source! This means the RIAA, magazines, "gratis" software, and *anything* that wants to automatically install on your computer.

    Always disable the autorun function of your CD.... It is unsafer than the black hole that goatse.cx represents... (/HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Serv ices/Cdrom set the value Autorun to 0)

    --
    Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
  12. Re:garage bands by MrNemesis · · Score: 2, Informative

    Don't forget Wap Records!

    http://www.bleep.com/

    Lots on content from the UK's premier indie labels, plus all of Bjorks back catalogue, all available in unencumbered high quality LAME MP3's

    --
    Moderation Total: -1 Troll, +3 Goat
  13. WalMart's retreat by westlake · · Score: 4, Informative
    Who'll be buying *Windows* when LongHorn comes out?

    Remember when WalMart was supposed to push Linux into the mainstream consumer market?
    Well, there are three remaining, pathetic, Microtel Linux/Linspire desktops being sold off Walmart.com and the link is like an afterthought. The Sun JDS is history. Open WMP 10 and you'll find Walmart.com added to the list of online stores.

  14. Re:I'd give it a try if... by Curunir_wolf · · Score: 3, Informative
    Oops! I should really try using that "Preview" button...

    Ok, here's the list: RIAA Membership

    --
    "Somebody has to do something. It's just incredibly pathetic it has to be us."
    --- Jerry Garcia
  15. Re:Let's just Stop giving them Money by WarmBoota · · Score: 3, Informative

    Personally, I've been doing just that. I also let retailers know why I buy some music and give other music a pass. A Boycott is a "drop in sales due to piracy" unless you actually let people know that you're boycotting the RIAA

    Obligatory links:

    • RIAA Radar allows you to determine if a recording is distributed by a RIAA-affiliate.
    • Epitaph has some of the best indy punk music available
    • Audio Lunchbox has a great selection of tunes for purchase in MP3 or OGG Vorbis formats
    --
    90% of everything is crap. Also, crap is relative.