BMG buys into SunnComm DRM
p2pnet.net News:- Proving that not only is one born every minute, but the same ones keep coming back, Sony BMG Music Entertainment is, “stepping up the rollout of what it calls content-enhanced and copy-protected CDs, according to company executives,” says a Billboard story.
And it’s using SunnComm ‘protection’.
SunnComm says its MediaMax is newly enhanced.
It would have to be given that so far, what’s principally distinguished its DRM product has been the speed with which it’s been cracked.
“It [MediaMax ‘protection’] began with the Chieftains’ ‘Live From Dublin’ album, released Feb. 22. Upcoming albums that will receive the treatment are from Kasabian (March 
and Susie Suh (March 29),”says the story, going on:
“Sony BMG expects that by year’s end a substantial number of its U.S. releases will employ either Sunncomm’s newly enhanced MediaMax or First4Internet’s XCP to address piracy concerns. No matter which technology a CD uses, it will include such extras as photo galleries, enhanced liner notes and links to other features.”
“What matters the most to us is the consumer experience,” Sony BMG Sales Enterprise co-president Jordan Katz is quoted as saying.
No, really! It’s in the Billboard item, which goes on to point out that BMG has used MediaMax releases including Velvet Revolver’s “Contraband” and Anthony Hamilton’s solo album —-
— both of which were cracked as soon as they hit the street.
The story says albums coming out “now and in the immediate future” will allow for three copies to be made, finishing with another quote from Katz to the effect that Sony BMG hasn’t finally decided what the number of copies should be, “other than there should be a limited number; it shouldn’t be infinite”.
Actually, Mr Katz, it’s not Sony who will decide. It’s the people who paid for, and who therefore own, the releases who’ll decide.
In the meanwhile, more to come on SunnComm.
Stay tuned …
(Thanks, Alex ; )
February 28th, 2005 at 11:46 pm
>> What matters the most to us is the consumer experience
Hmm. I guess the consumer “experience” of having a large blunt stick shoved under your tail while being told you like it is good!
No?
March 1st, 2005 at 2:10 am
YES..IS GOOD…NO… HMMM….SO IF YOU BUY A COPY OF MICROSOFTS WINDOWS XP PRO…THAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO RIP IT,STEAL IT, PUT IT ON THE INTERNET FOR ALL TO DOWNLOAD IT,AND SHARE IT…. WOW..ISN’T THAT JUST GREAT….WELL IF YOUR INTO SHARING THING,THAT DONT BELONG TO YOU….THEN LETS GET INTO IT….I AM ON MY WAY OVER FOR DINNER,UN INVITED OF COURSE,AND I’LL NEED THE KEYS TO YOUR CAR…NEED A NITE OUT ON THE TOWN OF COURSE….OHHH HANG ON … IS YOUR WIFE CUTE… YES… GOOD… I’LL NEED TO BORROW HER TO…AND ALSO IF YOU HAVE A SPARE CASH LAYING AROUND,THAT WOULD BE GREAT ALSO….AND ONE MORE THING… HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING GOOD LATELY….I DOUBT THAT,BUT IF YOU DID…I NEED TO TAKE YOUR CREDIT FOR IT…. I AM SURE YOU WOULDN’T MIND…. SO NEXT TIME YOU RIP AND STEAL FROM AN ARTIST… JUST SO YOU CAN HAVE A COPY OF SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T BELONG TO YOU….REMEMBER TO TO POST YOUR REAL NAME AND ADDRESS, SO MY ARTIST FRIENDS MAY STEAL WHAT BELONGS TO YOU….BUT AFTER READING THE CRAP YOU POSTED…I AM MORE THEN SURE,YOU ARE ONE HELL OF GREAT PERSON….. THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHT…SORRY I MISSED THE SIGN IN SPOT…MY EMAIL IS AJKOPY@AOL.COM MY NAME I TONY KOPY… AND THERE IS NO COWARDS IN MY FAMILY !!!! DROP ME A LINE FOOL…LETS TALK
March 1st, 2005 at 1:44 pm
Uh, before you attempt to right what you perceive as the great moral wrongs of this world, perhaps you could learn a few simple rules of electronic etiquette.
Or maybe not. Geniuses are *so* quirky!
March 1st, 2005 at 2:39 pm
DEAR TONY KOPY…. oh sorry, left the caps lock on. Easily done.
The issue here is not whether it’s wrong to steal copyrighted material – I think most of us agree that depriving artists of the money they need to feed their families is a bad thing.
There seem to be two valid points that the anti-DRM people are making:
1. DRM is an attempt to prevent consumers from doing things that are perfectly innocent and morally reasonable. Say I want to copy a DVD so that my kids can play it and scratch it up all they like, while I keep the original locked away. Oh, I can’t. DRM. Or how about if I’d like to listen to that new CD I just bought on my iPod, and maybe load it onto the MP3 jukebox in my car. Sorry, can’t do that, because Sony DRMed the CD. **** that, I’ll have to go download an MP3 of it from somewhere…
2. DRM is never, ever going to do more than slightly slow the spread of copied music via p2p or other means. Until Sony or some other mega-corporation can install DRM into every single recording and playback device (and maybe inside our heads too), it’s always going to be possible to copy music one way or another. File-sharing is so ubiquitous now that people don’t even bother to rip the CDs they own – they just download a copy someone else has ripped. All it takes is one person somewhere with the skill or patience to bypass the DRM. So DRM is really just a last-ditch attempt to claw back some of the revenue being lost by the ‘major’ artists and their labels.
March 1st, 2005 at 2:51 pm
This is so stupid, it could only be written by someone actually in the music industry.
Clue 1: Argues as though digital music is a rival good when, in fact, it’t basically the definition of non-rival. Music can be copied an unlimited number of times without cost and without affecting the ability of the original holder to enjoy it.
Clue 2: Assumes a copyright is property when, in fact, it’s not. Copyright is a power given to Congress by the Constitution as a tool of public policy, to be used to enhance the public good. The specific intent was that it be used to counteract the price tension created by non-rivalness–to give an incentive (a temporary monopoly) to create new works. It is perhaps ironic that for many years after its founding (indeed, until the 20th century), the United States was one of the great centers of piracy of the works of the rest of the world.
Clue 3: Defines copyright infringement as theft or stealing, when it’s not. Although, that thought is a conspicuous part of the RIAA’s disinformation campaign.
Clue 4: Resorts to questioning the goodness of a vague group of people to distract from the fact the rest of his argument is a mindless tantrum.
Clue 5: Immunizes himself against response by writing so obnoxiously that everyone cringes at the possibility of trading emails with this sad sack.
You’re a credit to the “artists” you represent. Keep it up!
March 1st, 2005 at 3:32 pm
“2. DRM is never, ever going to do more than slightly slow the spread of copied music via p2p or other means. Until Sony or some other mega-corporation can install DRM into every single recording and playback device (and maybe inside our heads too), it’s always going to be possible to copy music one way or another.”
-Even that won’t work… mod chips anyone?
March 3rd, 2005 at 5:39 pm
I AM RIGHT BECAUSE MY WORDS ARE BIG…I AM NOT FOOL…I MUSIC SAVER
If you’d actually taken the time to express yourself in a calm and clear manner, people would give you more respect, and be more open to your opinions. Instead you chose to act immature and have no ones respect.