Like SunnComm, Macrovision is aiming to offer protected audio CDs while
still allowing the DRM compressed tracks to be extracted to the PC in its
upcoming CDS-300 version 7. In the
upcoming system, the disc will aim to prevent casual ripping with 99% effectiveness, but its
embedded software will offer the ability to copy the contents off in one of
three DRM protected compressed formats on the Fly. Supported systems will include WMA for
secure WMA players, Atrac3 for Sony's players and are aiming to offer
FairPlay-protected AAC tracks for Apple's range of iPods in the last quarter of
this year.
Unlike
Real Networks which tried hacking the iTunes FairPlay to offer iPod support, Macrovision is aiming to
reach an agreement with Apple to license its FairPlay for use on its
CDs. Unlike online music services
such as OD2, Rhapsody, Napster and so on, Macrovision is not doing this to start
up an online music service that would compete with iTunes, but to simply add
iPod support to its protected CDs only.
|
According to mailings sent out with the company's CDS-300 version 7 beta release, "support for iPod and iTunes... will be made available in a Q4 update". The blurb claims that support will be enabled "via Apple FairPlay". That suggests that Macrovision has indeed managed to license Apple's DRM technology - or is sufficiently confident of doing so that it can provide a timeframe for the code's adoption. Macrovision called on Apple to license FairPlay earlier this year. Unlike Real Networks, however, it wants the technology to allow it to provide iTunes-ready compressed audio tracks alongside the Windows Media Audio files its CDS-300 copy protection mechanism already offers. Real wanted FairPlay simply so it could open its own online music store to iPod users. The company's Q4 update is also expected to include its RealTime DRM Encoding system, which converts on the fly a disc's Red Book audio source into FairPlay-protected AAC files, ATRAC 3 tracks for Sony portable music players or WMAs, according to a given user's personal preference. Reaching an agreement with Macrovision makes sense for Apple, since it will ensure that copy protected CDs no longer leave iTunes users out in the cold, but encompasses Mac buffs too. If we are going to have to face the mass release of protected discs, then we at least want them to support alternatives to Microsoft's software. It also is another nod toward Apple's |
It looks like Macrovision are aiming to get all the leading portable music
player audio formats covered in its upcoming CDS-300 version 7, excluding
MP3 and other non-restrictive formats.
However as its software will be capable of ripping its CDs on the fly to
encode this DRM compressed tracks, this may be a potential loophole that other
ripping software may exploit at a later stage.
Feel free to discuss and find out more
about CD copy protection measures on our Copy Protection Discussion
Forum.
Source: The Register - Internet & Law
