nanojath used our newssubmit to tell us:
A new technique to prevent people from (digitally) copying audio discs may have an undesired side-effect:
"Anti-piracy compact discs that cannot be copied by a computer have gone on sale in California. The first CD title has already sold 100,000 copies, but it is causing concern among audio experts because they fear that the music may be audibly distorted. |
The SafeAudio system was developed by Macrovision, a California-based company best known for its anti-piracy video systems. The technology stops people "ripping" music CDs to create high-quality digital copies on a computer hard disc or for downloading to a portable player.
The system also prevents people creating digital files from the CD to swap over the internet or copying music onto a blank CD - although it would still be possible to make a poor quality copy by converting the analogue output into digital code.
SafeAudio works by degrading the digital code. The CD will still play on an ordinary player or through a computer's speakers or headphones. But it cannot be copied. Macrovision says that the changes made to the music are not discernible."
Read the full article here.
Source: New Scientist
