‘Shift’ key breaks CD copy locks

CNET News.com ^ | 9/7/03 | By John Borland

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

A Princeton University student has published instructions for disabling the new anti-copying measures being tested on CDs by BMG -- and they're as simple as holding down a computer's Shift key.

In a paper published on his Web site Monday, Princeton Ph.D. student John Halderman explained how he disabled a new kind of copy-protection technology, distributed as part of a new album by BMG soul artist Anthony Hamilton.

Under normal circumstances, the antipiracy software is automatically loaded onto a Windows machine whenever the Hamilton album is run in a computer's CD drive, making traditional copying or MP3 ripping impossible. However, simply holding down the Shift key prevents Windows' AutoRun feature from loading the copy-protection software, leaving the music free to copy, Halderman said.

The technique was confirmed by BMG and SunnComm Technologies, the small company that produces the anti-copying technology. Both companies said they had known about it before releasing the CD, and that they still believed the protection would deter most average listeners' copying.

"This is something we were aware of," said BMG spokesman Nathaniel Brown. "Copy management is intended as a speed bump, intended to thwart the casual listener from mass burning and uploading. We made a conscious decision to err on the side of playability and flexibility."

The ease with which Halderman and others have disabled BMG and SunnComm's latest copy-protection techniques illustrates the delicate balance that record labels and technology companies are trying to strike in protecting content without angering listeners.

SunnComm's technology is the most flexible version of CD copy-protection to hit the market yet. It includes "pre-ripped" versions of the songs on the CD itself, each of which can be transferred to a computer, burned to CD several times, or transferred to many kinds of portable devices. These differ from unrestricted MP3 files in that only limited copies can be made, and not every portable music device can play them.

The Anthony Hamilton CD is the first release in this new generation of copy-protected CDs that come preloaded with these "second session" tracks designed for use on a computer, a strategy also being pursued by SunnComm rival Macrovision. Record labels have pushed for these tracks, mostly provided in Microsoft's Windows Media format, to be included on copy protected CDs in order to ameliorate consumers' concerns about not being able to use their music on computers.

SunnComm CEO Peter Jacobs said the technology--which will be improved in future versions--should still be attractive to record companies. Though simple, the act of holding down the Shift key in order to enable copying does let computer users know they're doing something unauthorized, he said. That alone will dissuade many people from making copies, he added.

"This is not an all-or-nothing thing," Jacobs said. "People can break into your house, because there's lots of information out there on how to pick locks. But that knowledge doesn't mean you don't buy a lock."

In order to fully prevent the antipiracy software from loading, a listener has to hold the Shift key down for a long period of time, at exactly the right time, every time they listen to the CD on a computer. Moreover, anyone who doesn't load the software won't get access to the second session tracks, which on future CDs will increasingly include videos and other bonus material, record company insiders say.

For his part, Halderman says the workaround is so simple that it's hard to fix. Nor is he worried about falling afoul of laws that make it illegal to describe how to get around copy-protection measures.

"I hardly think that telling people to push Shift constitutes trafficking in a (copy-protection technology) circumvention device," Halderman said. "I'm not very worried."

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Ooops. Back to the old drawing board.

[Diverdogz]

Well, that didn't take too long.

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[Dog Gone]

I have to laugh.

[supercat]

I wish Congress would pass a law against auto-installing software. [Or, for that matter, that I could at least convince XP that I want it to do absolutely nothing, zippo, squat, nada when I insert a CD except mount it. Don't open up WMP, don't offer to open up Nero, etc.]

[Phantom Lord]

This is even better than the last attempt to stop CD piracy that was defeated by a sharpie marker.

[js1138]

I suspect you could disable autoplay for CDs. Or start the ripping program before inserting the CD. Now that everyone knows what the copy protection involves, it will be simple to make a do-nothing program with the same name as the copy protection program.

[Cicero]

I agree with you. It should be illegal to load any kind of software on your computer without your consent. The problem is that most members of congress are computer illiterate, but they are capable of understanding that the music and entertainment industries are donating to their campaign funds.

[TSgt]

Right click on your CDROM drive in Windows Explorer. Choose Properties. Select the AutoPlay tab. For each drop down option select the "Prompt me each time to choose an action" radio button. Select Apply.

Done :)

[DB]

I do believe you can disable Autoplay on XP.

You can also configure the computer to do nothing regardless of what you put in the optical drive.

[per loin]

It sounds like you want to use Linux.

[Cicero]

With Windows XP, at least, disabling autorun is very simple. And you can also use TweakUI to disable autorun.

[Revolting cat!]

Great! Saves me 55 cents and a trip to an office supply store to purchase a Sharpie!

[yevgenie]

However, simply holding down the Shift key prevents Windows' AutoRun feature from loading the copy-protection software, leaving the music free to copy, Halderman said.
...I thought everyone disabled auto-run . . .

[John Lenin]

No matter what they do a program like Total Recorder will copy any audio that plays through a sound card. These Bozos should just admit that they can never stop cd copying.

[LibKill]

Anything digital can and will be hacked by some bright 13-year-old.

I am impressed that this 'hack' is so simple.

RIAA take note. Get with the internet, you can make money there. Other companies make money on the internet every day. In the last year I have bought over $500 worth of software and other items over the internet, on a pitiful salary yet.

Try to keep music off the internet and keep it on plastic discs and you will go the way of the manufactorers of whale-oil lanterns and covered wagons.

The future is here. Deal with it. Cash in on it.

[kylaka]

You can do that. Disable autorun on your CD.

[greydog]

as simple as holding down a computer's Shift key.

Id-juts

[Age of Reason]

When will they get it?

The technological monopolistic honeymoon is over for the entertainment industry.

The invention of recording technology made the media industry, and now the continued progress of technology will unmake the media industry.

Which will be a positive thing: It will democratize entertainment.

When there is not much money in art, only people who love art will make art.

But when there is a lot of money in art, mostly people who love money . . .

[kpp_kpp]

"Copy management is intended as a speed bump, intended to thwart the casual listener from mass burning and uploading. We made a conscious decision to err on the side of playability and flexibility."

Um... ok, proof that these guys don't think. What an oxymoronic statement! Yes it is the "casual listeners" that are "mass burning and uploading". Come on!

I agree with a comment on SlashDot... it is becoming to much of a legal hassle and liability to even listen to music. I can pick up newspapers and cafe, magazines at a doctor's office, books at a library, etc. But you have to be careful when listening to music... you could be breaking the law.