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Sony Doing An End Run Around Its Own DRM
glassgnost writes "According to a story at CNN, Sony has an odd response to complaints from fans who have discovered they cannot import their CD content to an iPod. Individuals who complain to Sony BMG about iPod incompatibility are being directed to a Web site that provides information on how to work around the technology. In short, some labels appear to have been instructing customers how to defeat DRM -- which, IIRC, is a violation of DMCA." From the article: "For now, the copy-protected discs work only with software and devices compatible with Microsoft Windows Media technology. Apple -- the dominant player in digital music -- has resisted appeals from the labels to license its FairPlay DRM for use on the copy-protected discs. The DRM initiatives are generating complaints from fans, many of whom own iPods. The message boards of artist fan sites and online retailers are filled with complaints from angry consumers who did not realize they were buying a copy-protected title until they tried to create music files on their home computers."
Its not Apple's fault fot not getting behind their DRM, its Sony's fault for including it, although I guess they would argue its our fault for "pirating" their music in the first place. Like when pops you use to beat you mercilessly for disobeying him.
insert inflammatory anti-microsoft comment here
I told you so, but would you listen to me?
Oh, nooooooooo, DRM will never cause problems for consumers, just a little harmless DRM...
Time to bring in the Holy Hackgrenade, and blow the DRM into little pieces!
--LWM
I don't think it is a violation of the DMCA if you tell someone how to circumvent the DRM to something in which you hold the copyright.
Yeah, but when would that generate as many page hits as "SONY VIOLATES THE DMCA AND TELLS YOU HOW TO CIRCUMVENT ITS OWN DRM LOLZ?"
"Sufferin' succotash."
3. How can I get tracks I rip from my CD into iTunes and/or onto my iPod?
Apple's proprietary technology doesn't support secure music formats other than their own and therefore the music on this disc can't be directly imported into iTunes or iPods.
Sony BMG wants music to be easily transferable to any device that supports secure music. Currently, music from our protected CDs may be transferred to hundreds of such devices, as both Microsoft and Sony have assisted to make the user experience on our discs as seamless as possible with their secure formats.
Unfortunately, in order to directly and smoothly rip content into iTunes it requires the assistance of Apple. To date, Apple has not been willing to cooperate with our protection vendors to make ripping to iTunes and to the iPod a simple experience.
If you believe that you should be able to easily move tracks from your protected CD to your iPod then we encourage you to use the following link to contact Apple directly and tell them so. http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html
That said, while there is no direct support on the disc for iTunes or iPod, SONY BMG has worked out an indirect way for consumers to move content into these environments, despite the challenges noted above. If you'd like more information on how to move content to iTunes please CLICK HERE.
Mine is Good
take a permanant marker and cross off this track...
Hey Sony! Think about what you're fucking saying here, jackholes!
Obviously a strange new usage of the word "appreciate" seen only in the record industry. "The female praying mantis appreciates the male's sexual advances."
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gee, I've been putting plain old MP3s on my iPod. Why does Sony need FairPlay to allow playing on an iPod?
To be honest, in Sony the right hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, let alone what the left hand is up to.
Witness the huge number of completely different and incompatible memory card formats Sony keep making.
Isn't Slashdot now guilty of DMCA violation for providing information on how to circumvent Sony's DRM of Sony's copyrighted, protected content?
Just because you are not paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you.
To be even fairer, customers shouldn't have to. The customers should be able to obtain CDs unencumbered with "prices" - I don't have any problems converting free CDs to MP3 on either PC or MAC.
Mine is Good
--- Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity