Comments | mmaestro: Copy Protection on CDs

mmaestro

Copy Protection on CDs

Sep 15, 2005 21:39

As an adjunct to my post on new audio formats, I want to make a comment on Sony-BMG's decision to begin making copy-protected CDs. If you want it in nutshell form, here it is: Sony-BMG are idiots ( Read more... )

technology, wargh!, music, drm

Comments 4

wingsrising September 16 2005, 12:34:36 UTC

I realize this is a matter of principle thing, but I thought I'd add:

Allegedly (I've never tried this) you can also stop autorun by holding the shift key down as you insert the CD and holding it for a while.

If you install the Tweak UI powertoy, that also has a setting that lets you disable autoplay.

I've only bought a few tracks online so far, but I think the "burn to Audio CD and rip" is going to be my standard procedure: it gives me the audio CD as backup, and who wants files with DRM? (I've discovered that the original filesI have at the moment, which I bought from MusicMatch, expect me to install MusicMatch on my new computer before it will play them. Screw that.)

mmaestro September 17 2005, 00:24:52 UTC

I'd heard about the autoplay thing. Problem is, Windows doesn't normally recognise partitioned CDs, so while that avoids installing the software, you still can't play the CD. I've heard of some people getting round this, but I'm not sure how.
Regardless, as you observed, I won't be buying the discs on principle.

ajp November 5 2005, 12:43:15 UTC

I've come to this via itchyfidget's journal (specifically this post.

"The disc autoruns, so when you insert it the driver and software is installed without your consent. "

I am not a lawyer; but I think that would be illegal under UK law - as (without a very overt warning on the box, as to what it does), it seems to be in breach of the 1990 Computer Misuse Act.

mmaestro November 5 2005, 17:15:08 UTC

Right. I figured it would be illegal in the UK, but in the US the.. I forget the name, millenium copyright act or something? Anyway, there was a lot of very consumer unfriendly legislation passed to enable DRM here in the US - in all probability, even uninstalling the software once it's on your system is illegal (you're not allowed to do anything to circumvent or disable DRM software, period).

Also, I don't know how reliable the sources are for the autorun part are. Sysinternals, for the rootkit question (which it seems at least asks if it can install software, although it's misleading as to what it does) are unquestionable reliable on the whole issue though.