Copy Protected CD's Cracked

Related link: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/20766.html

Two weeks ago I scribed a weblog regarding the record labels shipping copy-protected CD's without letting consumers know of the change, and how this was a blow to the ideas behind fair-use.

While I still believe fair-use has been compromised, it's good to see that there is a way around this absurd scheme by the record labels thanks to a few hackers out there. The bypass, explained on CD Freaks, converts the disc tracks to .wav files in RAM and mounts them as readable volumes. At that point any .wav app can handle the rip.

Now of course you could've bypassed the watermarking before the crack by simply connecting your headphone jack to your audio card's input jack, then recorded the audio as a .wav file (and subsequentially created an MP3 from that). The problem is that's a lot of work if you're trying to get ready for a quick jog around the block with your MP3 player.

This new crack isn't something the general public will catch onto; only a niche crowd will use it. The fact that the CD's were cracked is a surprise to no one either, including the RIAA. They know the mass majority of the population won't know how to use the technology to work around these new CD's, just like the cable companies know a minor segment of the population has descramblers.

While the RIAA may bank on the majority of people not ripping their CD's to MP3's, they may not be taking into account that this may push these same people to alternative file-sharing networks, where they can get an MP3 from a more computer-savvy person. As the network propegates and the number of files increase, it becomes much easier and makes more sense for consumers to visit Morpheus and get an album in the MP3 format then it will be to subscribe to one of the record labels subscription services and pay for a format they can't use outside of their PC.

On a side note. RIAA president Hillary Rosen was on my TV last night. Now I have to go buy a new TV, mine has spoiled.....

Will P2P networks become the fair-use savior?