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Sony's New Nagging Copy Protection

Posted by Zonk on from the annoying-your-customers dept.

bort27 writes "You can put away your Sharpies, because Sony has launched a new CD copy protection scheme that is actually designed to be easily cracked: 'The copy-protection technology is...far from ironclad. Apple Macintosh users currently face no restrictions at all. What's more, if users go to a Web site to complain about the lack of iPod compatibility, Sony BMG will send them an email with a back door measure on how to work around the copy protection.'"

4 of 404 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting... by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 5, Interesting


    So...they've figured out they're not going to stop dedicated music pirates.
    So instead of making the copy protection stronger, they're making it weaker?

    Ostensibly, this is to stop 'schoolyard piracy' (as if your average 'schoolboy/girl' can't rip tracks to MP3), but I'm seeing a slightly darker angle here...hold on...

    <tinfoil-hat>

    OK. Here we go:

    1. Sony makes copy-protection weaker, while making 'speed bump' obstacle to 'schoolyard piracy'.
    2. Correspondingly, more people turn from 'schoolyard piracy' to 'actual piracy'.
    3. RIAA suddenly has many more viable targets
    4. ???
    5. Profit!

    </tinfoil-hat>

    Whew...wearing that thing sure makes you paranoid...but does it make you paranoid enough?
    --
    ____

    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

    1. Re:Interesting... by vettemph · · Score: 4, Interesting


      I've used tinfoil to gain reception on a TV (a very long time ago). Something tells me we've been tricked into wearing the tinfoil to block signals when in-fact the tinfoil aids reception. ...the ultimate reverse psychology from the propaganda machine. We've been tricked. Do you provide a special resistor/inductor filter to ground in order to attenuate incoming programming?
      Perhaps the grounded tinfoil shielding reduces your emmissions in order to avoid a tempest attack?
      I'm confused, what shall we do?

      --
      The government which is strong enough to protect you from everything is strong enough to take everything from you.
  2. If you use the back door you are given... by vrimj · · Score: 5, Interesting

    what are the legal implications? Your still getting around a copy protection scheme, presumably Sony couldn't sue you, but what about potential criminal penelties?

  3. Sing it with me - D. M. C. A. by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Sony makes copy-protection weaker, while making 'speed bump' obstacle to 'schoolyard piracy'.

    Stop right there. This is the entire strategy.

    They're making copying their CD a matter of circumventing an encryption device which is a felony under the DMCA. There's guaranteed to be some encryption in this scheme somewhere, even if it's not the actual data tracks that are encrypted. Perhaps some meta information.

    No matter, they're taking illegal copying of a CD from copyright infringement to a felony for easier / more terrorizing prosecution. Pragmatically, that's the only way they're going to be able to enforce artificial scarcity in this market.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)