New twist on CD Copy Protection.

[hech54]

My wife bought this Sony CD yesterday. I noticed it said on the CD that it was Copy Protected and Pre Ripped for PC. I just HAD to see what would happen when I stuck it in my PC.

First off the player does not automatically launch per the instructions below. Secondly….read numbers 7 through 10 below on the frequently asked questions. I find these statements VERY amusing indeed.

Here is a picture of the CD playing in Windows Mediaplayer:

And here is the CD loaded into Roxio….ready to make .wav or MP3 files:


Here is the FAQ on the disc:
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
This disc has been manufactured using copy controlled technology to prevent unauthorized copying of the audio on this CD. This disc includes the following software which will allow you to listen to the audio on your computer.
"MUSIC PLAYER" Version 1.0
DiscPlayer Version 1.0
Copyright (c) 2003, Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
GETTING STARTED
When you insert the disc into your computer, a player should automatically launch. This player allows you to listen to the music on the CD. If the player does not launch automatically, then follow these steps to launch the player manually.
1. Double click on the 'My Computer' icon on your desktop
2. Inside the 'My Computer' window, double click on the icon for your CD-ROM drive
3. Once you see the list of files on the disc, double click on the folder named 'BIN'.
4. Once you see the list of files in the 'BIN' folder, double click on the folder named 'WIN32'.
5. Once you see the list of files in the 'WIN32' folder, double click on the file named 'START.EXE'.
Once the player opens, you should see a button named 'Open CD Player'. When you click on this button, a listing of all the audio tracks on this disc will appear, and you can listen to the music this way.
To copy the tracks to your computer, you must use the "MUSIC PLAYER" software provided on this disc. This application will be installed the first time you try to copy the tracks to your computer. Follow these steps to launch the "MUSIC PLAYER" installer manually.
1. Double click on the 'My Computer' icon on your desktop
2. Inside the 'My Computer' window, double click on the icon for your CD-ROM drive
3. Once you see the list of files on the disc, double click on the folder named 'BIN'.
4. Once you see the list of files in the 'BIN' folder, double click on the folder named 'WIN32'.
5. Once you see the list of files in the 'WIN32' folder, double click on the file named 'MQSETUP.EXE'.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. I insert the CD and nothing happens. What do I do?
If the player on the disc does not start automatically, then follow the directions listed in Getting Started to launch the player.
2. I double clicked on the 'START.EXE' and still nothing happens. What do I do now?
Make sure that you are using an original CD, and not a CD-R. The player will not launch from a CD-R copy of this disc. Try ejecting the disc from your PC and re-inserting it.
3. When I click on the 'Open CD Player' button, nothing appears. Why?
On some Windows configurations, you must have Power User or Administrator access in order for this software to function correctly. Try logging into Windows as Administrator, or contact your system administrator for help.
4. The audio looks like it's playing, but I don't hear anything?
Make sure that your speakers are plugged in, and that your system volume is not muted. You can check these settings by double clicking on the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your screen, next to the system clock.
5. I cannot install the "MUSIC PLAYER" player.
On some Windows configurations, you must have Power User or Administrator access in order to install the "MUSIC PLAYER" player. Try logging into Windows as Administrator, and then running the "MUSIC PLAYER" installer.
6. The "MUSIC PLAYER" installer says that I need DirectX 8 or higher. Where can I get it?
You can download DirectX from Microsoft at their DirectX website.
7. How can I import these tracks into my own media player, like Windows Media Player, RealJukebox, or MusicMatch?
Currently, the only way to play back the audio files on this disc is with the "MUSIC PLAYER" player. In the future, we plan to offer compatibility with other media players such as Real, WinAmp, and MusicMatch. For the latest information on these downloads, please visit our customer support site.
8. Will this CD work on my Mac?
Currently, the software on this disc in not compatible with Apple Macintosh computers. In the future, we plan to offer a solution for Macintosh users. For the latest information on Mac compatibility, please visit our customer support site.
9. How do I copy the tracks to my portable device?
To copy a track to your portable device, you must have the OpenMG Jukebox or SonicStage software that came with your Sony portable device installed on your computer. Once you install the "MUSIC PLAYER" software on this disc, then you can use "MUSIC PLAYER" to send tracks to your portable device through OpenMG Jukebox or SonicStage.
10. How do I put these tracks on my iPod or Nomad MP3 player?
Currently, the software on this disc in only compatible with portable devices that support the current version of OpenMagicGate. If you are running the following software, you will need to upgrade in order to use "MUSIC PLAYER".
o OpenMG Jukebox Software Version 2.2 (and lower)
o SonicStage Version 1.0.06 (and lower)
You can download the latest version of this software from the "MUSIC PLAYER" website at http://www.openmg.com/MUSIC_PLAYER.

[Ironballs]

Hech54,

Even if it worked, that's too much shit to play a cd. My old dear, and most of the population, wouldn't have a chance and would probably take that piece of crap back.

ironballs

[BJ_M]

what he is saying and showing us that the copy protection doesnt work at all as its supposed to and you can still make copies of the real audio files

[Cobra]

Can CDex rip it? I bet it can...

[thecoalman]

That crap was one of the things that turned me off on the Sony mp3-like player. If your unfamiliar this is how it worked. The player would only play audio using the propietary sony format (of course). Once installed you had to rip the cd into a "music bank". It could then be imported into the player but it removed it from the bank and couldn't be used on anyhting else until you rebanked it.

Yea that'll keep a lot of consumers happy..... Ease of use

[glockjs]

My wife bought this Sony CD yesterday.

you dont have to lie, we know its your cd

[hech54]

what he is saying and showing us that the copy protection doesnt work at all as its supposed to and you can still make copies of the real audio files

Exactly.
I should have made my LAUGHTER at the so-called COPY PROTECTED CD more obvious.....

[hech54]

Can CDex rip it? I bet it can...

It probably can....my lowly Roxio can do anything with it..
What I would like to know is why my computer has absolutely NO trouble with ANY of the so-called copy protected CD's.

[DereX888]

Can CDex rip it? I bet it can...

It probably can....my lowly Roxio can do anything with it..
What I would like to know is why my computer has absolutely NO trouble with ANY of the so-called copy protected CD's.

Because you have some 'illegal' computer ofcoz!
The correct, *politically* correct to be exact, computer would refuse to not only copy it, but at first sign of right-clicking or doing anything else but executing 'play' command - it would've reported you to nearest police division and MPAA/RIAA office!

Also please keep in mind that version 2 of "MUSIC PLAYER" player software will include automatic deduction of appropiate licence fees directly from your bank account and forwarding it to Sony Music Entertainment and RIAA at every successful (or not) attempts to copy any disc bearing logo or name "sony" in, on, or near any of its data bytes...

[hech54]

Wow....think I should get a lawyer?....

[BJ_M]

it is to late - your ass is owned

[BJ_M]

specially with those new German Internet laws that are scary as anything anywhere ...

[888888]

Return the CD. Because you, the consumer cannot do what you wish with it, it is defective. Never buy another CD again unless you know for sure they are not trying to pull shit like this on it. **** em, case closed.

[hech54]

Return the CD. Because you, the consumer cannot do what you wish with it, it is defective. Never buy another CD again unless you know for sure they are not trying to pull shit like this on it. **** em, case closed.

I think you missed BJ_M's first post and misunderstood my first post. The copy protection DOES NOT WORK on my computer....I can do anything I want with this so-called Copy Protected CD....

[BJ_M]

hech54 - forget it, your subtlety was lost on the masses ... :

[BJ_M]

though - it is rather bizzare, this so called copy protection ...

[bugster]

Its even more bizarre (or perhaps not) that SONY Japan recently announced that they will no longer be using any sort of Copy Protection on Music CD's from now on. This is a good example of why they aren't going to bother, it just doesn't work!

[888888]

hech54 - forget it, your subtlety was lost on the masses ... :

Well, it took a while but I have finally been relegated to "the masses".


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________________________that one is me____________________

I think you guys misunderstood my not-so subtlety. I understood that you may not have had trouble with it but my point was that nobody should buy these copy-protected CDs, period. Just cause you don't have trouble with it doesn't mean others won't, so why encourage them?

I get a little angry when dealing with this subject so you will have to excuse me.

[thecoalman]

I think the copy protection depends on ignorace more than anything. It does stae right on it that it's copy proceted right?

As in joe who knows nothing reads the copy protection notice and never tries to copy it.

[888888]

I think the copy protection depends on ignorace more than anything. It does stae right on it that it's copy proceted right?

As in joe who knows nothing reads the copy protection notice and never tries to copy it.

The whole point is that companies are NOT required by law to state that their CDs are copy-protected. There is legislation in the works to change that. Things may have changed already, I don't know.

[Doramius]

When it comes down to it, it should still play in a regular player. I stream it digitally from a very nice quality player into my computer as a high bitrate audio file. Convert it to MP3. Then load it into an iPod and/or create my backup disc. If it doesn't play on my player, I take it back. I'm not purchasing something that's not compatible with my equipment. THat's just stupid.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Too funny,when will these companies ever learn that copy-protection is a waste of money?

[BJ_M]

well i am in the film music industry and get a little pissed when i see our films and music floating around on p2p and the net -- since we live off our rentals and royalties and to a large extent they fund the next project (and my paycheck) -- i can see the "other side" ....

i have NOTHING against making copies for your OWN personal use/backup , but we all know that a lot of these 'backups" are not for personal use ..

not accusing anyone - so don't all fly off the handle at me ..

[Doramius]

I am a heavy collector of movies. If a company produces a movie/music disc, they should get royalties. I make personal back ups of my movies and music because I've invested a lot of time and money in my collection. I go so heavy into collecting that I've bought R2R (Reel to Reel) of movies not available on DVD, LD or VHS, and with some friends, went to the local college campus and used the A/V room to convert it to DVD. It is a lengthy and time consuming process, but this is what it means to be a die hard collector. If the movie comes out on DVD and has everything that's in the R2R, I destroy the copy and buy the DVD. The only sad part is I'm left with a R2R, but it sells pretty well to other collectors. though I won't say wether or not I'm guilty of making copies for others or buying a bootleg. Why reinvent the wheel yourself when someone else has done it for you?

[ChrisX]

I am on a computer would probably not be able to play this Sony CD due to being a copy protected disc. It is crap and send it back to the store.

Copy-protected discs never work and never play on this PC I am using now.

It is an AOpen DVD-ROM drive and this doesn't see the songs in the disc.

It thinks the disc is a blank and it can't play it.

The funny thing about this, there is another PC in another room having a Sony DVD-ROM drive.

It can override the copy-protection to copy the songs into MP3 files without a problem using Musicmatch or Roxio.

I can then make a CD-R copy of it for my own use for the car player.

Making it into Mp3 files is the only way I can play it on this computer and the funny thing is supposed to be copy-protected.

[mysticgohan17]

Wouldn't having a 50-100mb mp3 copy of the album on the disc require the CDDA running time to be shorter? I want more music than that.

[BJ_M]

looks like you get about 10 minutes less

[Doramius]

I think all the talk and publicity about copy protection is just making the industry worse in itself. If they weren't trying so hard to focus media attention on themselves, they would have as bad of problem. I've talked to people who never knew they could copy music to another CD until they saw it on the news. THey then went out and bought a new computer with all the equipment they needed.

What I don't understand is that they are saying that companies cannot provide a way to allow people to backup copyrighted material. There goes Xerox & Kodak along with MS softwares like Word, Excell, and Adobe Acrobat. And every company that makes disc burners would be in violation if they provide drivers for their hardware. That's a load of bulls**t before the cow's finished digesting.

[ViRaL1]

Here's an idea. Spend more money on making music that's WORTH buying.

[garman]

This is why I stay away from sony. They have created copy protection on cd's and will continue to do so. meanwhile they will go out and produce a mp3 player. What !#$%@$ing nerve. From what I've read so far, they are now trying to monopolize on portable mp3 players by making proprietary software that will only work on sony's portable players. Other companies can jump on board with thier mp3 technology only if you buy the rights to place the sony format on thier player. Do what I do, stay away from any SONY product unless given (MAYBE!). -garman