Jul
02
2004Fun With CD Copy Protection
02
2004
I just got a used CD in the mail, and I discovered that it was labeled “Copy Protected”. It was an “advance/promotional” copy, so I don’t know if the standard version is also “protected”.
Here was my experience. When I inserted the CD, Windows AutoPlay popped this up:
Hmmm… What should I click? How about “Cancel”?
I then proceeded to rip the CD in iTunes as I would normally do, without a hitch.
By exploring the CD contents, and Googling the names of some files in there, I learned that it was “protected” by something called “CDS-200“, now distributed by Macrovision. Here’s a great excerpt from the product description:
The CDS-200 data session contains protected and compressed music files for PC playback. These files can only be played from the original disc through a dedicated secure player and cannot be ripped (copied) to the PC’s hard drive.
The files on the DATA session cannot be ripped… Notice it says nothing about the AUDIO tracks 
All so very silly. But, as long as the industry is content to keep using lame-ass copy protection, those of us smart enough to know better than to click “OK” to anything that pops up will be able to use our music as we see fit.