Sony sells over 1 million CDs featuring "sterile burning" DRM

May 31, 2005

Since March, Sony BMG has been testing out a rollout of content-enhanced copy-protected CDs with at least 10 commercial titles released so far and over 1 million of these discs sold in total. These discs feature a protection known as "sterile burning" developed by First4Internet, in which the original disc allows up to three copies to be made. However the recorded discs cannot be copied as these are also infected with DRM along with PC playable tracks in DRM protected Windows Media Audio files. So far no title names using this protection have been disclosed.

While online music services do limit the number of CDs one can burn a given title too, the recorded discs can easily be copied or ripped back into a DRM free format. According to Thomas Hesse, Sony's president of global digital business, ripping and CD burning accounts for two-thirds of all piracy, such as at schools. As a result, securing the CD is their prime concern.

While Sony is aiming to increase the number of copy protected CDs they release, they currently have one major issue in that the DRM prevents consumers from transferring their music to their iPod as Apple has not yet licensed its FairPlay DRM for use on copy-protected CDs. However, these CDs should play in all conventional CD players due to being compliant with the Sony Philips CD specifications.

NEW YORK (Billboard) - As part of its mounting U.S. rollout of content-enhanced and copy-protected CDs, Sony BMG Music Entertainment is testing technology solutions that bar consumers from making additional copies of burned CD-R discs.

Since March the company has released at least 10 commercial titles -- more than 1 million discs in total -- featuring technology from U.K. anti-piracy specialist First4Internet that allows consumers to make limited copies of protected discs, but blocks users from making copies of the copies.

The concept is known as "sterile burning." And in the eyes of Sony BMG executives, the initiative is central to the industry's efforts to curb casual CD burning.

"The casual piracy, the school yard piracy, is a huge issue for us," says Thomas Hesse, president of global digital business for Sony BMG. "Two-thirds of all piracy comes from ripping and burning CDs, which is why making the CD a secure format is of the utmost importance."

Read the full article here.

With the iPod being the market leader for portable audio devices, there is likely going to be quite a number of upset music lovers finding out that they must carry their bulky CD player about for another while yet. As Sony's music devices lack Windows Media Audio support, it will also be interesting to see if Sony's copy protected discs are even compatible with their own portable players. :p

Source: Reuters - Music