"Copy-proof" CDs cracked with 99-cent marker pen

Reuters via digitalMASS.com ^ | 5/20/02 | Bernhard Warner

[GeneD]

LONDON, May 20

[mgc1122]

ROTFLMAO ... so much for the superior technical intellect

[ken5050]

Do you know if these new CD's have a warning label that says IN BIG LETTERS, that they can't be copied.....because if not, the BEST way to defeat this is for everyone to buy a CD, the return it saying that they don't want it because they can't make a copy...

[Skooz]

I love this. Thanks. It makes Monday better. :0)

[Recovering_Democrat]

Trust me, the executive at Sony who sold this to the brass will find himself mopping the floors tomorrow.

[phasma proeliator]

Ping

[Hodar]

So, all a hacker has to do is change the initial default of a CD-ROM to search for Audio first, and if audio isn't found on the disk, revert to data mode. Or, enable the user to determine whether the CD-ROM should even look for data. Make the medium selectable between Data, Audio, or both (like in games).

[kezekiel]

"I wonder what type of copy protection will come next?" one posting on alt.music.prince read. "Maybe they'll ban markers."

Somebody in Congress is getting a donation and a phone call as we speak.

[ColdSteelTalon]

You know. One of the reasons for making an archival copy is so that you can store a bunch of them on your hard drive to listen to a work without having to change out CD's all the time. These people who put on this copy protection should get a grip and just realize that no matter what they do someone will figure out a way around it.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Will it work with a yellow highlighter or do I need red or black?

[phalynx]

Or simply mark a line across the data section with a marker.......

[Wm Bach]

Will it work with a yellow highlighter or do I need red or black?

It doesn't matter so long as you have a 99 cent marker. Do not use a $1.39 marker or an $0.89 marker, as they will not work.

[robertpaulsen]

Save that magic marker for the new National ID card. I wonder how much Sony spent? And how much will the federal government spend on a "tamperproof" card?

[Hodar]

What do you do if they interweave data sectors between songs?

[ken5050]

Actually, if they studies Econ 101 they do far better..Drop the price of a CD to $6 bucks or so, they'd sell 5 x as many, make more money,and no one would bother to copy...

[KentuckyWoman]

Technology bump!!

[IoCaster]

"Somebody in Congress is getting a donation and a phone call as we speak."

BINGO!!

Heh...you took the very words right out of my mouth.

[kezekiel]

Hey Sony!

[Phantom Lord]

The biggest crime here is not that they defeated the technology, but that they bought a Celine Dion CD! They should be rounded up and shipped to an uninhabited island, left to fend for themselves.

[Skooz]

What if it's a $.99 marker on sale for $.89? Or a $1.29 marker on sale for $.99?

Hacking is hard.