I have frequented a number of websites and forums discussing the new copy protection schemes as opposed to those that were originally used. The new schemes are quite different than the first generation and will only become much more sophisticated. We no longer have "redbook" CD's. Some new CD's may be ripped by SOME programs or by SOME drives or by SOME operating systems or a combination thereof. Yeah, I can copy a CD via digital out to my professional stand-alone CD writer or my digital audio tape player and then rip it (or copy it via analogue out), but my whole point in starting this thread wasn't that a particular scheme would not eventually be cracked or a workaround found, but that this has become a giant shell game about DRM.
MOST people will not have the time or sophistication to figure out how to rip a non-DRM copy of their CD, thus coercing those who manufacture products (digital audio players, including Slim Devices) to adopt DRM protection. The hackers will find a way: "Let's see...this is the new CD by the Foo Wrestlers. According to my new Snoop Copy Protect Detect program it uses the SunMoonMacrovision XYZ protection scheme. Ahhh, now I can switch to my Linux/Apple/Commodore 64 box, plug in my external Plextor/Lite On combo 12XY drive, use Isobuster/EAC/Audiograb prebeta version 87a, run it through my homebrew DAC computer card, store an image on my hard drive, convert to FLAC with cuesheet and then rip it to CD-R with Nero version 1AZP. Now I can use that copy to rip it to my player or drive without DRM. Yesssireee, I CRACKED it." The major labels and copy protection companies employed by them must enjoy reading 20 pages of hacker forums discussions about the confusion over how to rip the new releases. I would expect that they do not intend to confound everyone, just most people. In fact, Sony/BMG press releases have referred to "casual piracy". They know they are not going to outwit the dedicated hacker who wants to post the stuff on P2P networks--they will fight and are fighting that particular battle with lawsuits and legislation. I suspect that the days of holding down the shift key or pressing Control-Alt-Whatever while holding your mouth just right to avoid a program installation are over. The major labels are at war with piracy and I can't blame them. However, their scorched earth policy will soon interfere with the average person's ability to listen to the music they purchased legally and legitimately and most likely will result in DRM becoming standard for hardware manufacturers who need to sell their products in the marketplace. The customers will be hollering at the manufacturer of their players (YOUR player will not play/store MY song) and NOT the labels. This is precisely what the labels want: to force DRM on manufacturers of hardware. Then the battle has been won. Slim Devices and other manufacturers want and need to sell to a broad range of people, not just sophisicated computer users who can figure out how to crack copy protected audio content. -- Jeff52 _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
