A while ago we reported about the country artist Charly Pride, who was set to release America's first copy-protected compact disk using an incorporate technology that, in theory, would be able to stop listeners from ripping its tracks into MP3s.
The CD should be released today, and we are really wondering if the protection works. Anyone bought this CD, and tried to rip it to MP3 for personal use ?
In March, a federal court order required Napster to block access to certain files identified by the record industry as copyrighted works. The company has been covering its service with complex filters, but record labels, musicians and publishers are still wary of the Net and its ability to open doors to free music. |
As a result, the music, publishing and film industries are working with digital rights management companies to thwart would-be pirates. Although record labels and film studios have had some success in courts, the technological side has proven more difficult. Last year, BMG Germany's push to secure CDs using technology from Israeli security company Midbar failed. BMG abandoned its project after complaints piled up from customers who said their players could not read the discs.
On Pride's new album, encryption technology by Phoenix-based SunnComm prevents people from copying the CD's music on a burner or downloading it onto Napster in a digital form, according to Music City Records. The recordings can be downloaded into MP3 or other music file formats, but only after an individual purchases the CD, which has a list price of $16.98, and registers that copy.
Bob Heatherly, chief executive of Music City Records is confident that the CD will prevent people from breaking the encryption code. The label, which was founded in January, decided to release copy-protected CDs in response to Napster's controversial service, which does not compensate artists. Heatherly added that when he negotiated with Pride to sign him on his label, the singer wanted to ensure that his music was protected.
"It's the first release on Music City Records, so it's kind of a landmark for me and Charley," Heatherly said. "It looked like the labels were laying back to see what the courts do, and I can't believe the courts are continuing to let Napster run the service...(so) it was a perfect time to do it."
Source: Yahoo
