Microsoft unveils new copyright software

The Associated Press ^ | 5/3/2004, 7:31 a.m. ET

[FourPeas]

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) — Microsoft Corp. is unveiling copyright protection software to allow rented songs or movies to be used on portable players, cellular phones and other devices.

The company's latest "digital rights management" software, code-named Janus, was released Monday. It will give songs and videos purchased through subscription services a sort of digital expiration date that works even when the data is transferred from a computer. The technology also protects the content against piracy.

The goal is to make it easier for companies who want customers to rent songs or videos, rather than own them, to also let those users play back the content on portable players.

For example, with the new technology a user could rent several movies for a long trip, download them onto a portable player and then watch the movies until the rental expires a month later. A user also could rent songs for a set period and play them back on a portable player.

"At the moment the current subscription models that are out there are so hobbled by the fact that they cannot be taken away from the computer," Microsoft spokesman Jason Reindorp said.

The new technology will work only with newly developed portable players, which Reindorp said are expected to hit the market in the next two to three months.

Companies including The Walt Disney Co. have said they are interested in using the new technology for their content.

[martin_fierro]

I expect a hack will be available shortly.

[FourPeas]

Yup. At least it gives the hackers something new to do.

[FourPeas]

Ping!

[randog]

I expect a hack will be available shortly.

If it isn't already.

[Pete]

There is already a very simple way to get around any digital copyright protection software. Run a cable from Line Out to Line In. Play the song and record it at the same time. If you can hear the song (which presumably you can if you rented it), then you can record it. There is really no way around this.

[tdadams]

The company's latest "digital rights management" software, code-named Janus, was released Monday.

Gee, I wonder how Janus feels about this choice of name.

[eno_]

Not only will it be hacked and useless, it will be worse than useless: This kind of DRM requires your "personal" computer to be able run code and store data you can't control or access.

This capability can be used for any purpose, including law enforcement surveillance. But hey, you can trust both John Ashcroft and Janet Reno, and their successors, never to abuse that, right?

[Protagoras]

I expect a hack will be available shortly.

Theives are very cleaver. What a shame that bright people don't apply themselves to real productive activity. But it never will be so.

[DarthFuzball]

Janus is also the Roman god of gates and doors.
Which is why Janus is depicted with 2 faces each facing an opposing direction.
Coincidence??

[FourPeas]

Coincidence??

You're not suggesting....something ominous?

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

Janus is also the Roman God of gates, strangely enough he is often depicted in artwork as having two faces, which of course ties in nicely with two-faced Microsoft. :-)

[longtermmemmory]

There is already a hack for the itunes neutering scheme. Part of this effort is for microsoft to compete with the RIAA. IOW MIcrosoft seeks to replace them.

[DarthFuzball]

Well...
Lets just say that it's little things like this that make my like linux even more.

[DarthFuzball]

While i have the tin foil on, lets see....

Janus....
Two faces...
Was John Kerry involved.....

I think i need more coffee.

[William Terrell]

And it'll take how many minutes to find a way to defeat this?