GOOD news and bad news. First, record labels seem to be putting the brakes on CD copy protection such as CACTUS, which stops Cd's playing in many Cd players as well as computers, and is easy to bypass and rip a cd to MP3 anyway.
The bad news is that they soon won't need to - computer manufacturers will do the job for them.
While record companies haven't actually come out and said they're dropping the copy-protection technology - that in many cases stopped CDs from playing - it hasn't appeared in anything like the volume we feared.
However the next threat to copying is from Microsoft and Hewlett Packard, whose new "digital media" PC incorporates anti-piracy technology.
The copying of CDs and downloading of MP3 files off the net will be impossible on these new machines.Inevitable really, seeing as Microsoft now wants to control entertainment, as well as the PC and the games console market.Bill Gates yesterday drafted in Titanic director James Cameron to launch his newest piece of domination technology - Windows Media 9.
Having spent £320million and four years developing this digital beast, Microsoft is on a mission to outlaw illegal file sharing, kill off MP3s and control your music and video collection.
Thing is, who in their right mind would buy a machine they knew contained this technology? Maybe you first time buyer who is unaware of the restrictions on the machine, or maybe your inquisitive hacker determined to find a way around the technology, a wire here... maybe a chip like on games consoles there... job done.
Maybe even a software work around....
This all seems to tie in with the bill being put forward to make it illegal to use a custom built or modified computers on the internet, the problem with that law is it would only affect users in the USA and not world wide, however the USA pretty much controls the PC industry as we know it... would measures like these kill off the US Pc industry and cause manufaturers to move to Europe and the far east?
Question: Who's doing the most damage, the pirates or the people out to stop them?
Thanks to MSFN.org
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