Digital rights (and wrongs)

Xugumad · 11-06-2001, 10:36 PM

This is a slightly modified re-post of something I wrote somewhere else. It's about secure digital audio, and disappearing rights for computer users, uncopiable CDs, and Microsoft. The usual stuff, then.

All modern sound cards (SB Live and newer) support what's called the Secure Audio Path. With the proper hardware support (which is now luckily present in WinME and XP), SAP-enabled soundcards will only output sound if SAP-enabled devices (like most modern computer speakers) are detected on the output channel. Windows media has this Digital Rights Management technology built into it. Give it a few years, and you can be certain that Windows will only let you play/copy files that you have purchased the 'digital rights' to. Ok, here's a hint: how does the sound get from the CD drive to the speakers? Two ways:

1. through a cable connected to straight to the soundcard
from the drive.

2. Digital Audio Extraction.

SAP is implemented on an OS kernel level in the soundcard drivers/hardware, as well as in the OS itself. With fully 'digital rights managed' WMedia files, if the proper keys are set within the file, it becomes unplayable unless several conditions are met, usually within the hardware. The second that there is a critical mass of installed approved hardware and software (WinME/XP, SB Live and above, etc.), MS and content producers will simply start locking out 'insecure' media.

The only way you'll be able to rip CDs from your system in 5 years' time is by using pre-SB Live soundcards and operating systems. Since the VAST majority of operating systems comes pre-installed (OEMs), this will become irrelevant at some later stage. The laws of market demand will eventually see most people use Windows Media, simply because it'll become ubiquitous.

About the technological detail:
"The SAP adds 'static' interference to media files that require video and audio cards to authenticate themselves with Windows software before they can be played. The company would be able to verify that a media player isn't playing an "unsecured" file, which according to Microsoft would eliminate much of the threat of piracy."

If the current attempts at protected CDs work (and it looks like many of them are), that old hardware won't work either. The DMCA already makes copyright circumvention devices, hardware, and activity highly illegal, and the SSSCA is adding more on top of that. All MS needs to do is to include a VERY minor patch in their Windowsupdate critical updates package, and a lot of things simply won't work anymore.

What, people aren't going to take it? Do you really believe that? The geeky people who spend all their time here and on Slashdot will try to find ways around it, sure. But the 99% of people who get WinXP/ME pre-installed simply won't have the option. All they need is the vast majority - who cares about the whiny complaints of people who have consistently been portrayed as obsessive nerds and intellectual property pirates? We aren't providing any of the big bucks that MS lobbyists spend on campaign contributions.

Go and read the docs listed above. They have pretty pictures. They explain how 'piracy' will be stopped at the *kernel* level. You can have all the nifty hardware you want, unless the OS co-operates, it won't work. Linux/FreeBSD won't help you read CDs that computer CD drives physically can't read either.

The minority will be smart, and probably ultimately defeated. We have too much working against us - all the TV and cable networks are owned by 'content producers' who are scared of having their stuff distributed for free without them being able to make money off it. The same applies to music, books, ANYTHING that can be converted into bits and bytes.

Come on: Bush basically ordered the DOJ to end the MS trials with a castrated settlement that effectively does NOTHING. Gates is on record as being "very satisfied" with the ruling; how often do you hear a defendant saying that unless he got away unpunished?

Use your brain. Know what's being done. Be aware that the freedoms that came with cheap CD-Rs, Napster, Morpheus and ubiquitous CD burners are rapidly disappearing.

Links:
http://www.directionsonmicrosoft.com...xgnpt_illo.htm

http://www.wired.com/news/technology...,41614,00.html

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...opathmodel.asp

X.

11-06-2001, 10:36 PM	#1
Xugumad Punisher of Good Deeds Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 183	Digital rights (and wrongs) This is a slightly modified re-post of something I wrote somewhere else. It's about secure digital audio, and disappearing rights for computer users, uncopiable CDs, and Microsoft. The usual stuff, then. All modern sound cards (SB Live and newer) support what's called the Secure Audio Path. With the proper hardware support (which is now luckily present in WinME and XP), SAP-enabled soundcards will only output sound if SAP-enabled devices (like most modern computer speakers) are detected on the output channel. Windows media has this Digital Rights Management technology built into it. Give it a few years, and you can be certain that Windows will only let you play/copy files that you have purchased the 'digital rights' to. Ok, here's a hint: how does the sound get from the CD drive to the speakers? Two ways: 1. through a cable connected to straight to the soundcard from the drive. 2. Digital Audio Extraction. SAP is implemented on an OS kernel level in the soundcard drivers/hardware, as well as in the OS itself. With fully 'digital rights managed' WMedia files, if the proper keys are set within the file, it becomes unplayable unless several conditions are met, usually within the hardware. The second that there is a critical mass of installed approved hardware and software (WinME/XP, SB Live and above, etc.), MS and content producers will simply start locking out 'insecure' media. The only way you'll be able to rip CDs from your system in 5 years' time is by using pre-SB Live soundcards and operating systems. Since the VAST majority of operating systems comes pre-installed (OEMs), this will become irrelevant at some later stage. The laws of market demand will eventually see most people use Windows Media, simply because it'll become ubiquitous. About the technological detail: "The SAP adds 'static' interference to media files that require video and audio cards to authenticate themselves with Windows software before they can be played. The company would be able to verify that a media player isn't playing an "unsecured" file, which according to Microsoft would eliminate much of the threat of piracy." If the current attempts at protected CDs work (and it looks like many of them are), that old hardware won't work either. The DMCA already makes copyright circumvention devices, hardware, and activity highly illegal, and the SSSCA is adding more on top of that. All MS needs to do is to include a VERY minor patch in their Windowsupdate critical updates package, and a lot of things simply won't work anymore. What, people aren't going to take it? Do you really believe that? The geeky people who spend all their time here and on Slashdot will try to find ways around it, sure. But the 99% of people who get WinXP/ME pre-installed simply won't have the option. All they need is the vast majority - who cares about the whiny complaints of people who have consistently been portrayed as obsessive nerds and intellectual property pirates? We aren't providing any of the big bucks that MS lobbyists spend on campaign contributions. Go and read the docs listed above. They have pretty pictures. They explain how 'piracy' will be stopped at the kernel level. You can have all the nifty hardware you want, unless the OS co-operates, it won't work. Linux/FreeBSD won't help you read CDs that computer CD drives physically can't read either. The minority will be smart, and probably ultimately defeated. We have too much working against us - all the TV and cable networks are owned by 'content producers' who are scared of having their stuff distributed for free without them being able to make money off it. The same applies to music, books, ANYTHING that can be converted into bits and bytes. Come on: Bush basically ordered the DOJ to end the MS trials with a castrated settlement that effectively does NOTHING. Gates is on record as being "very satisfied" with the ruling; how often do you hear a defendant saying that unless he got away unpunished? Use your brain. Know what's being done. Be aware that the freedoms that came with cheap CD-Rs, Napster, Morpheus and ubiquitous CD burners are rapidly disappearing. Links: http://www.directionsonmicrosoft.com...xgnpt_illo.htm http://www.wired.com/news/technology...,41614,00.html http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...opathmodel.asp X.

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