Comments on: iPod undermines Microsoft on copy-locked CDs

Microsoft's WMA format was almost a standard on copy-protected CDs. Then along came Apple.

Cracking copy protected cd's is easy

that's why it got to number 1.

tip: stick the cd in your mac, copy all the tracks to your hard
disk, then rip them into itunes. works a treat.

That is so not the point

The fact that as of right now it is fairly easy to by pass the copy protection is so not the point and as long as people like you think that way everyone is going to be getting the shaft int he near future and wondering what happen.

If the studios feel that putting out copy protected CDs is ok and sales keep as they were with non-protected CDs that it is only a matter of time before they come up a copy protection that can't be broken. This may or may not included the governemnt passing laws that force electronics makers and computers makers to put the hardware version of the copy protection in to all devices from computers to CD players to everything that plays or can possibily play music. If you can't find or buy a device without this stuff you won't be able to by-pass it. And sure for a while you will just not buy any new hardware, but that is only going to work for so long. Either your old stuff will break and you won't be able to get it fixed because it is now illegal or they will fix it but they have to bring it up to legal standards or something.

In this country the citizens are loosing freedoms and rights left and right. We no longer have a right to backup the media we buy any more. It is only going to get worse unless we stop it now. The best way to do that is to get the jerks out of office that pass these types of laws and to stop buying media and electronics with protections.

Otherwise corporate greed and political stupidity is going to continue to suck our freedoms down the drain.

Robert

Wrong!!

Actually it isn't always as simple as that. It didn't work with the
chili's album. But ;toast' works a treat ;-)

Poor research!

I bought the protected Velvet Revolver CD and I'm listening to it
on my iPod right now. I wish people would do a little research
before writing lies! I put the Velvet Revolver CD into my Mac and
iTunes launched, and I was able to import the music onto my
Mac in the wonderful AAC format and onto my iPod. I then
thought I should try it on my test PC at work, I put the Velvet
Revolver CD into my Windows XP PC and was able to import the
songs without any problems. I'm very happy with Apple and it's
great products, AAC is far better than Microsoft's WMA
proprietary format. Wake up people, and CNET, quick publishing
lies, do some fricking research. Take off the Microsoft blinders
and do your job.

What are you daft...

Sorry fella, Apple is the locked down proprietary format here not Microsoft. Microsoft licenses their audio format to companies as of now Apple does not and that is the whole point of this article.

Apple is everybit if not more a monopoly than Microsoft. Apple keeps far more control over the Macintosh and their music player than any other company. You don't see Microsoft or Intel saying hey you can only use the hardware we allow or license.

The reason Apple gets away with their monopoly is that with 5% or less of marketshare no one gives a hoot.

Robert

[Edmund Jacobsen]

Same here!!!

Ryan Smith Said: "I bought the protected Velvet Revolver CD
and I'm listening to it on my iPod right now. I wish people would
do a little research before writing lies! I put the Velvet Revolver
CD into my Mac and iTunes launched, and I was able to import
the music onto my Mac in the wonderful AAC format and onto
my iPod."

Did excactly the same thing, Ryan. I don't quite understand the
point of this article!!!!!

[unknown unknown]

Use Apple's DRM cause I can crack it

There are some fairly easy to use tools that will remove Apple's DRM.

[KDoggMDF]

Really now?

Care to share on a link to one such tool? Email me ([e-mail]) if so.

[Darknyht]

Apple licensed Fairplay to Audible.com

The article is not exactly correct. Audible.com has been using
.aac files for over a year. audible books are sold on the iTunes
store in the exact format they are sold on their own website.

To correct the original statement: Apple has not licensed their
software to their competitors. As it is their right to do.

And the price of CD's will go up!

"... if Apple is able to license its digital rights management technology for use on copy-protected CDs, it could be a promising new revenue source"

It would be nice to think that the Record Industry will absorb this cost. Though I think it will be unlikely. Soon we will be paying extra for our crippled CD's.

But then, if they manage to eliminate piracy (unlikely) they will be able to charge what ever they want.

[bigjim01]

iPod is not a worthy device

I don't think that the iPod is really a worthy device. What we really need is an open standard way of protecting the copywrite, but still alowing the music to be transferred to a device that the user is the owner. Buy.com has music downloads in WMA format, but because of the short sightedness of the people Buy.com was dealing with, you cannot backup the licence. The people making the decisions need to get off their high horse and get real. They need to understand the technology, or they need to step down.

[Raife]

Missing The Point...

Most of this, entirely misses the point...

Because...

Here, yet again, CONSUMERS are having THEIR RIGHTS stripped-away by 'Big-businesses' (using the continually-ringing war-cries of "Copyright" and "Intellectual-Property").

It is of the utmost importance to note that such 'companies', despite their perpetual claims to the contrary, ARE NOT 'protecting their LEGITIMATE rights. 'Copyright' DOES NOT, and NEVER WAS SUPPOSED TO, give 'Copyright-holders' this level of CONTROL over CONSUMER'S USE of THEIR OWN 'PROPERTY'.

Indeed these recent actions (to extend 'unprecedented-levels' of control over the 'use' of the products which consumers have LEGITIMATELY PURCHASED) are SO-OVER-REACHING that,, ...such "Rights Management Techniques", themselves, should be considered to be CRIMINAL-ACTS ( ...when weighed against numerous legally-established 'Precedences' and 'legally-codified' PERSONAL RIGHTS which these actions DIRECTLY-VIOLATE).

And, if you aren't already aware of it, the 'major recording companies', in both Europe and America, actually stated several years ago that "DRM, on ALL media, ...IS going to happen". Nor, does this mention, one of their [various content creators] eventual goals of "Pay-Per-Use" based upon the convoluted concept of, "...media-licensing" (rather than 'private-ownership through one-time purchase').

Furthermore, according to Microsoft, Sony, HP, Cisco, etc. all of this WILL soon be facilitated by 'restrictive technological-measures' built directly into ALL 'consumer digital-devices'.

Finally, for the edification of those professing the FALSE-BRAVADO of, "...any copy-protection can be cracked", ...circumventing such 'copyright protection-measures' is ALREADY a 'Federal-Offense' (under the "DMCA", for example). And, (if 'copyright-interests' get their way) it will soon simply be impossible to avoid 'virtually unremovable' consumer-control measures built-into the basic-design of every available technology (...for more insight, just look-up "TCPA", "SAP", "The Broadcast-Flag", or virtually any of the recently proposed legislation designed to "...protect copyright-holders").

In this same vein, check out:

http://news.com.com/Tech%2C+Hollywood+heavyweights+create+content+coalition/2100-1025_3-5268315.html?tag=nefd.top

What ?

I don't understand your logic. Buy a wintel PeeCee and a player that supports the proprietary WMA format ? You can't be serious. You sound like you work for Micro$oft (now THAT is an understatement). Proprietary is not always evil. But when it is inferior than the competition and a company like M$ which disregards any business and technology ethics for more than 2 decades is behind that, it is plain stupidity.

[PCCRomeo]

All they're ever worried about is compatibility with iPod!!!

Okay. I know the iPod is supposedly the "leading" MP3 player (Although, I've only seen the people on MTV carrying one), and they should be worried about the WMA compatibility with the iPod, but if they switch the format over to AAC or some other Apple format WHAT will that mean for the Dell DJ users, or the Sony and Gateway players?? Apple, You're NOT the only MP3 manufacturer in the world! Make you're player WMA compatible and STOP TRYING TO SHUT ALL OTHER PLAYERS OUT!!!!!!!

Speeding Ticket

Face it people, illegaly copying CD's to whatever hardware or s/w format will end up being a slap on the wrist. Internet security will be so tight that if caught downloading pirated s/w or and "audit" of your PC, iPod, whatever device, you will get a fine, pay the $50 bucks, go to some morals class and go on with your life. Just like getting a speeding ticket...move on already.

The ultimate Lock-In....

How can you say the iPod is locking you into a format when DRM'd .wma is only available for Windows, the ultimate lock in. At least DRM'd .aac can be played on both Macs and PC's. Since Microsoft is trying to corner yet another market into it's submission by keeping it's format closed to other computing platforms and forcing users to use Windows.
What's the big deal with what music store you use too, singles are .99¢ in most stores, 128k vs 192k songs sounds nearly identical and a song from one music store is exactly the same as that song from another store. So make all the excuses you may want to justify your purchase of the Dull DJ but saying that Apple's .aac format is a proprietary lock in just doesn't hold water when .wmv means I am locked into using Windows.