Thanks to GristyMcFisty we know, that last month a new audio copy-protection was introduced to the UK, which causes major compatibility problems on many CD-Players. Especially car CD-Players are affected.
Interesting point: The radio stations and the BPI put the blame on the car manufacturers for not keeping up to date with their (red book compatible) CD-Players.
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Matt Phillips from the British Phonographic Institute was on hand to fill explain. "I think you have to look at the changes in the CD format over the last couple of years," says Phillips. "The CD format was first introduced in 1980 … and there were standards to make sure all CDs would play. But things have moved on since then." "In order to offer the consumers greater choice and a better package, we've seen that record companies are not only introducing enhanced CDs and video content, but it means the format has ever so slightly changed." "So what the record industry has done is work very, very carefully with the manufacturers of these CDs and this format … and completely borked them." Actually, he didn't say that really, although this would have been closer to the truth. What he said was - "So what the record industry has done is work very very carefully with the manufacturers of these CDs and this format to make sure all these CDs play across a number of formats." Except in cars, of course. Phillips explains, and make sure you're sitting down for this next one. "The CD player he has got in his car is not actually, initially supposed to play audio CDs." Huh? "Now that might sound a bit strange," says Phillips. Indeed it does. "But within the context of copy protection … there have been a number of problems not only with cars but drives. Manufacturers must be aware of specifications that have changed considerably since 1980." |
As we can read in this Register article, the IFPI stated in their guidelines of May 2002, that record company labels should clearly indicate what kinds of machines the discs will and will not play on.
Source: The Register
