“Ballad Hits” copy protection fails to fulfill its mission
Written by roxeteer on November 8, 2002 to Releases.
Even before “The Ballad Hits” compilation’s official release date, there were early reports that the album’s controversial copy protection was a failure. While it’s true that you can’t play it with normal Windows CD player software, you can definitely make high quality MP3s from the songs on the album.
On a PC, all you need is a copy of EasyCD Creator, a software program that is distributed with many CD burners. On a Mac it’s even easier: you can use iTunes which comes bundled with the operating system to either play the CD or encode MP3 files from it.
The record label isn’t completely surprised. “We are aware the copy protection is still not 100 percent developed,” said Li Eriksson of EMI Capitol Records to The Daily Roxette. “We are also aware of other problems… for example some car stereos can’t play it, et cetera. However we are in constant contact with the developers of the copy protection system and there will be a new version available at the beginning of next year.”
New Media Manager Anders Livag of EMI Capitol told TDR that “Cactus 200”, which was used on “Ballad Hits”, has been a success, even though the technology is only six months old. “Out of 200,000 units we’ve only got 50 complaints so far, mainly about car stereos.”
“Cactus 300 will be finished next year and we have high hopes for that. The new version will hopefully include DRM, Digital Rights Management, which means that you can make one digital copy for yourself,” Livag says. “Cactus 300 will be incorporated to Roxette’s “Pop Hits” compilation, and it should be a lot better than 200, both problem wise and protecting wise.”
EMI Capitol first wanted to use Sony’s copy protection scheme, but they were reluctant to license it and the record company chose Cactus Data Shield by Midbar Tech instead. Midbar Tech was recently aquired by Macrovision, a company which developed the industry standard protecting system to retail VHS cassettes and DVDs.
TDR has also received reports that some high-end CD players have been unable to play the record without audio errors.
Thomas Evensson and Lars-Erik Olson contributed to this article.
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19 comments
coyboyusa said on November 8, 2002 13:01:
So EMI tested software at our expense. OK, I am officially pissed off.
royalball said on November 8, 2002 17:41:
I have a CD player in my truck. I always listen to Rox CDs while driving. It’ll be a disappointment if I can’t listen to the new CDs in my truck.
pietROxette said on November 8, 2002 21:00:
“you can definitely make high quality MP3s from the songs on the album.”
All I can say is: “HAAAAAA-HAAAAA!”
Fernandinha said on November 9, 2002 00:41:
I didn’t have problems to play on my car stereo.
Fernanda - Brazil
johmi said on November 14, 2002 14:08:
I have tried this CD in my player, a Marantz DR6000, which is a dedicated audio-CD-player. This player is not capable of playing it, it just tells me that the disc is “NO AUDIO - PLEASE INSERT A NEW DISC”. This has convinced (spelling?) me that I will NEVER buy and MUSIC PRODUCT (observe not CD) containing COPY PROTECTION since they DON´T FOLLOW Philips RED BOOK (cannot be played in all CD-players directly) and can´t therefore be said to be Compact Disc.
Best regards Mikael
SilverBloo said on November 16, 2002 13:06:
Copy protection is the most pointless bit of CD tech that has ever been created. The more the greedy RIAA and record companies try to stop us turning music that WE HAVE BOUGHT [not that we *can* buy Roxette CDs in this country, like >_
JoyrideJivey said on November 18, 2002 19:04:
I’d say it’s failed. I myself have managed to rip the EP plus ATAY and Breathe, and they seem to be playing and sounding just fine.
What has pissed me off though is that I can’t use the original cd’s in my portable cd player, and I have a thing about listening to music when riding to school. Darn it... it funny though... the cd’s have been playing anywhere else. It plays 9 secs on the portable and jams... how nice.. :P
So generally, I can’t say that I like copy-protected cds.
TheBigger_TheBetter said on November 8, 2002 09:46:
Isn’t it ironic the the word “CACTUS” means stuffed up in slang, well here in Australia anyways. “So you play this in your car, it’s Cactus!!!”
I just realised “Stuffed up” is slang for, I shouldnt say, well , it wont work!!!