Microsoft software protects copyrights

With the music industry scrambling to stop piracy, technology companies have sprung to the rescue with methods for protecting media content. On January 20, Microsoft officially announced the release of Windows Media Data Session Toolkit, a means for putting protected music files onto audio CDs.

A session is the name given to a segment of data burned onto a CD-R/RW. A CD may contain many sessions. This new software allows a media company to record two sessions on a CD - the first session would contain standard CD audio, and the second session would contain Microsoft's copy-protected Windows Media Audio files. Most audio CDs do not use the full capacity of a CD; depending on album length, they may use around 500 megabytes - which leaves 150 megabytes or more for the second session to hold Windows audio files.

The audio files can be played on any computer or portable device equipped with Windows Media Player. According to Microsoft, there are 450 million computers and portable devices worldwide with Media Player installed.

In order to listen to the music on the second session of the CD, the music owner must obtain a license to access the content. Media companies can include the license on the CD, or it can be downloaded online. At this time, only Windows Media Player 7.0 or higher for the PC can access the license on the CD. Software earlier than 7.0 and all Macintosh versions will have to obtain a license through an Internet connection.

Microsoft's Windows Media Data Session Toolkit may offer a solution to the problems with current CD copy protection.

Most CD protection technologies available now use methods to distort or change the CD audio data on the disc so that the music cannot be copied on a computer. However, consumers have complained that these schemes often make the CD inoperable on computer CD drives, car stereos, and portable devices.

Microsoft's design allows a CD to be played on normal CD players through the first session of the CD, which contains standard CD audio, and on computers and portable devices using Windows Media Player to play the second session of the CD.

"It's a solution for record companies instead of blocking CDs from computer use," said Erin Cullen, product manager for the Windows Digital Media Division.

Since the Windows Media digital rights management only protects the files on the second session of the CD, it remains the music company's choice whether or not to copy-protect the first session CD audio.

The new technology also gives record companies more freedom to adopt new distribution methods and set protection options on music. Second session content could include extras such as bonus tracks or artist interviews, and the audio files could also be offered for download online. Content companies can specify the length of time or number of playbacks for which a license is good. This gives them the ability to rent music for a certain time period or to give out trial or demo copies.
The software includes options for the content owner to revoke access to a file. This gives record companies the ability to take away music from a customer if the license period has expired or if they believe that the music owner is violating copyright law.

A number of companies are already taking advantage of Microsoft Windows Media Audio files. Pressplay, an online music service partnered with Microsoft, has licensing contracts with all five major music labels. Although the availability of popular music has been a problem in the past, Pressplay says that it is no longer a problem. The company has over 100,000 songs available, including music from groups like Aerosmith, Eminem, U2, Incubus, Coldplay, and Britney Spears.
"Availability of music is becoming far less of an issue than it ever has before," said Seth Oster, vice president of corporate communication and affairs at pressplay.

Online file-sharing programs such as Kazaa, which allow the illegal exchange of music, remain a problem for the music industry. The Recording Industry Association of America continues to pursue legal action against distributors of copyrighted material.

"As more and more people understand the value [of Pressplay], there will be more of a migration to legitimate services," said Oster.