TT5B Copy Control Issues

[BeastieBoys.com]

1. There is NO copy controlled software on US or UK releases of Beastie Boys' "To the 5 Boroughs."

2. The disk *IS* copy controlled in Europe - which is standard policy for all
Capitol/EMI titles (and a policy used by ALL major labels in Europe).

3. The copy protection system used for all EMI/Capitol releases including "To the 5 Boroughs" is Macrovision's CDS-200, which sets up an audio player into the users RAM (not hard drive) to playback the Yellow book audio on the disk. It does absolutely NOT install any kind of spyware, shareware, silverware, or ladies wear onto the users system.

You can find more information on the technology used here:
http://www.macrovision.com/products/cds/cds200/index.shtml

This is what EMI has to say about it:
1. Reports that "spyware" is being included on the Beastie Boy's CD, "To the 5 Boroughs" are absolutely untrue.

2. EMI is committed to fighting music piracy. To this end, EMI has been releasing copy protected CDs in Europe and certain other territories for over 18 months.

3. The copy protection software used in the Beastie Boys' "To the 5 Boroughs" is the same software that has been used in over 5,000 EMI titles, including recent CDs by Radiohead, Norah Jones, Coldplay, NERD, Janet Jackson, and Chingy. Over 80 million CDs have been sold with this software.

4. There is no copy controlled software on US or UK releases of Beastie Boys' "To the 5 Boroughs."

5. The copy protection system used for EMI/Capitol releases including "To the 5 Boroughs" is Macrovision's CDS-200, which sets up an audio player into the users RAM (not hard drive) to playback the Yellow book audio on the disk. It does absolutely NOT install any kind of spyware, shareware, silverware, or ladies wear onto the users system. In fact, CDS-200 does not install software applications of ANY KIND on a user's PC. All the copy protection in CDS-200 is hardware based, meaning that it is dependent on the physical properties and the format of the CD. None of the copy protection in CDS-200 requires software applications to be loaded onto a computer.

The technology does launch a proprietary Macrovision player in order to play the second session of the CD (which is necessary in order to play the CD in a PC). It also installs a graphic "skin" for the player, the skin component is resident until uninstalled using the 'uninstallplayer.exe' that can be found on the CD (top-level directory). These details can be verified in the 'install.log' file in the computer's root directory. You can find more information on the technology used here

[Michelle*s_Farm]

BeastieBoys.com wrote:

"1. There is NO copy controlled software on US or UK releases of Beastie Boys' "To the 5 Boroughs."

I purchased a copy controlled "To the 5 Boroughs" in New York City. After I realized it was copy controlled I went out and bought a non-copy controlled version. Were some copy controlled versions mistakenly released in the US?

[johnsongs.co.uk]

I am gutted that the Beasties have employed the use of virus malware and it is even worse that they think that by not infecting computers in the US or UK, then its ok. It is a basic tenet of copyright law that once a consumer purchases a product, they obtain a licence to personally use it and this includes copying it. Copyprotected CDs prevent a user from transferring products onto different media and forces users to buy the product again and again in order to obtain it on a different medium. Its a violation of the public's legal rights and it makes the Beasties look like the money-hungry-multi-nationals that they say they hate. I am gutted that the BBoys have sunk so low.

[BeastieBoys.com]

Originally Posted by johnsongs.co.uk

I am gutted that the Beasties have employed the use of virus malware and it is even worse that they think that by not infecting computers in the US or UK, then its ok. It is a basic tenet of copyright law that once a consumer purchases a product, they obtain a licence to personally use it and this includes copying it. Copyprotected CDs prevent a user from transferring products onto different media and forces users to buy the product again and again in order to obtain it on a different medium. Its a violation of the public's legal rights and it makes the Beasties look like the money-hungry-multi-nationals that they say they hate. I am gutted that the BBoys have sunk so low.

I think you need to read the news item again, especially this part:
2. The disk *IS* copy controlled in Europe - which is standard policy for all
Capitol/EMI titles (and a policy used by ALL major labels in Europe).


First of all, this was not the band's choice. Second of all, you are misinformed about it being "virus/malware". Read the technical data. It's nothing of the sort. These rumors are unfounded and are just negative hype.

[lyric]

i can't get the cd to play in my pc only the video. is the macrovision deal supposed to sort itself out or do i need to lend a hand? (because i don't know how).

[gzottie]

just upload the songs onto ITunes.com and then burn them onto a cd.

[TanVanStan]

"this was not the band's choice"

Weather or not the band was "allowed" to release this cd without copy protection, it was their choice.

"you are misinformed about it being "virus/malware""

this program that automatically runs, and automatically installs itself (into ram) IS a virus. No one has any delusions about the cd destroying a hard drive or such. A virus is a program that does things other than the users intent.

[Ole H]

I gotta tell you I'm kind of split on this. I can understand that anyone would want to protect their immaterial rights, but on the other I don't think this kind copy control is the way. A long discussion, which I really don't feel like getting into that now.

So let me go pragmatic on you: For me, being a European consumer, it comes down to one thing: How the hell do I get the music on my MP3 player? I primarily listen to music on that. If that option goes away, it's a huge step back. That can't be right. So I have the CD, I've bought legally, receipt and all. There's nothing illegal about me making a copy form my MP3 player. There's gotta be a way?

So my question is: How do I get the MP3 files? I'm willing to scan my receipt for the purchase and e-mail it, or even send you photos with me and the original CD doing everyday things, hanging out at the park, sharing a pepperoni pizza and cuddling up on the long winter nights. Anything it takes, I NEED THE MUSIC TO GET ME THROUGH THE DAY!! Arrrrghhhhhhhh! (OK, I'm rambling now, sorry)

[aaarrrgh]

Johnsongs raises a point which I've found to be largely ignored. The fact that it's perfectly legal for European users (at least where I'm from) to rip the album to one's computer. Why do the record companies then insist on pursuing us like we're thieves?

And if I have to be pedantic, I'll even have to state that the words, 'copy controlled' doesn't actually imply that you can't rip your cd. Neither does he bit on the back of the jewel case. And I see no notes anywhere, in the liner notes, with a satisfying explanation of what the program does. The fact that I have to go on the internet or possibly INSTALL IT (how ridiculous is that?) is completely unacceptable.

So essentially some users won't actually know what they're installing on their computers (and given the fact that I have quite the tech background, I'll let you know that this is a disturbingly how percentage of the users we're talking about here). The fact that EMI aren't informing of the actions they're taking when the cd is put into the CD drive is, at least to me, not acceptable. I usually avoid big record companies (and hey, luckily there are enough indy artists out there to keep me happy - also on another note. Last CD I bought from a major record company was Outkast's latest album. I don't know if they were using 'copy controlled software' back then, but nothing was installed there) because I don't believe that they don't support their artists sufficiently. And this brings me further away from it.

And it may not be spyware. It may not be vaporware (which technically, is a nickname for software that never arrives). But it sure isn't acceptable either.

At least I'm happy to see that (as evidenced in another thread) are concerned about this as well. But this is probably the last time I'll buy an album from a major record label.

[mayormule]

Any software installed on my machine without asking permission is engaging in virus like activity. A bill going through congress now will hopefully make this activity illegal. When my poorly manufactured CD (I have been buying them since 1988 and the quality has gone downhill quite badly) fails from age in a year or two will the King Ad-Rock buy me a new one since they don't want me to make my own backups? Even if the band has nothing to do with it and it is all the record companies, well they can fight for parties, tibet and other stuff,but what about my fair use backup rigths.

[phulshof]

I love your music guys, but if I can't rip the cd to Ogg to be a part of my music collection (I listen to my cds as an Ogg jukebox on my computer as my computer speakers are a lot better than those of my stereo set) then this cd has no value to me whatsoever. I don't share music with others, so if you insist on treating me like a criminal, then there is no reason for me to be your customer.

Regards,

Pieter Hulshoff

[hdw]

3. The copy protection system used for all EMI/Capitol releases including "To the 5 Boroughs" is Macrovision's CDS-200, which sets up an audio player into the users RAM (not hard drive) to playback the RED book audio on the disk. It does absolutely NOT install any kind of spyware, shareware, silverware, or ladies wear onto the users system.

Plays, and rips, perfect on my PC.

But of course, according to the brainiacs at Macrovision, it's not a PC, it's Unix workstation ...

In other words, morons.

// hdw

[anon95422]

Thank goodness it didn't happen to a real band...

So Europe is the proving-ground for crippled CDs? UK and US are permitted, for now, to buy music that they can play. We are allowed to own our iPods, our Nomads, our car-MP3 players and all the advanced tech that apparently does not wish to utter the music of the beastie boys. Does it even matter? One band has allied itself with a company which wishes that no computer be capable of playing their music. Who are they expecting to buy? Who knows?

[Zpottr]

From your frontpage:

Nothing is permanently installed on a hard drive. These details can be verified in the 'install.log' file in the computer's root directory.

This is, ofcourse, impossible.

Guys, I bought a lot of your CDs (more than any other bands) and I really don't need your lying to me. Why you think this bullshit is neccesary is beyond me. Besides, the suggestion that this stuff is OK because it's not offered on the US and UK discs (but is offered in Europe) is very, very disappointing from this band. The US/UK-centric attitude that speaks from this is shocking.

What the HELL do you (or EMI, whatever) think to achieve by a copy protection that
1) is *very* easily defated for those with bad intantions, but can be a pailn for real fans with iPods, car radios, etc
and
2) only applies to a part of discs sold world-wide (there is something called "the internet" nowadays).

The only ones you will negatively affect are your fans who *bought* the friggin' album.

I am very puzzled about all this. It's just idiotic.

[Jay3]

Quote:
This Macrovision technology does NOT install spyware or vaporware of any kind on a users PC.

Vaporware? EMI is clueless. They don't even do the research before spouting off crap like this, it's no wonder they put all sorts of garbage on a CD too. If I can't buy a cd and re-rip it to add CD-TEXT info for my car... I guess I just won't buy it.

[oldschool_1985]

I want red book standard cd audio music on my cd's. You install trojan spyware that runs in ram. It pretends to play the audio tracks, instead plays windows media files locked by Bill Gates's DRM (Digial Rights stealing malware).

Sellouts!!!!!

I used to really like everything you said you stood for. I guess it was just an act to give you street cred. Next time you want to make a political statement, don't. You are now scum sucking corporate whores.

What is next using "No Sleep till Brooklyn" as the Republican Convention song?

"Fight for your right to party" selling Budweiser?

If you gave a shit about your fans you would tell the corporate handlers you would not release a defective cd with trogan spyware on it. You would start your own label and be honest instead.

long time fan,
now sadly never buying any more of your albums, or going to your shows,
selling all your old albums

Lastly vaporware is something that is marketed that doesn't exist.
What 80-year-old pr flack that is doesn't understand technology and computers wrote your lame press release.

Get a clue!!! Sellouts!!!!

[vodkajello]

Heh, I like that... "nothin is installed on the hard drive. Just check the root directory where we left a file.....but we absolutely leave nothing on the hard drive."

wtf?!

I'll repeat what I said in a different thread. DRM is great until it prevents the enjoyment of the product by the legit user. This particular DRM scheme prevents the new CD from playing in my car on the stock player (99 vw golf). It sucks, it's broken, they were wrong to put it on the disc.

...further proof that record companies are ass.

[sumarou]

Check out: http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl\s...id=141&tid=188

Check Your Head (Score:3, Funny)
by yoshi_mon (172895) Alter Relationship on 21:33 Saturday 26 June 2004 (#9539263)
I want to say to Jimmy James that I'm rather mad at the "vaporware" that is not being installed on my box.

My Funky Boss is not happy about it either because when I tried to listen to my new CD on my computer at work it hosed it up.

I had to Pass the Mic to my admin who told me I needed to read /. more often so I would know these things.

But I did have some Gratitude for other artists who take a stand with their recording companys unlike the BBoys are doing now apparently.

Their website told me to Lighten Up but I still don't think they are being honest with me.

Other CD's are Finger Licking Good because the are real but I guess they forgot that when they made this one.

So Whatcha Want is a real CD and not this one.

The Biz vs the Nudge was a grudge match between DRM and Fair Use, we are still waiting to see who will win.

Time For Livin is right now, if you are real about your music BBoys stand up to your label and speak some truth.

Something's Got to Give and it will; SCO will fall and MS will have to find a new shill.

The Blue Nun does not even like the DRM on her box.

Stand Together beacuse if we refuse these DRM crippled systems they will stop selling them.

POW in your mouth for messing with us.

The Maestro told me that I could disable this DRM by holding down a shift key but he was sent away for being a "terrorist".

Groove Holmes also was suspect but he is told them he's voteing for Bush this year so they let him go.

Live at PJ's was recorded and distributed via Kazaa, increaseing record sales, but the RIAA still sued them.

I Mark the Bus with instructions on how to defeat the DRM on the new BBoys album so all my homies can see it.

Professor Booty is working on a way to defeat people who "steal" all that music by singing on their own but I hear it's not going very well.

In 3's, #1 damn this album has a lot of tracks, #2 I though I could respect the BBoys but I'm not so sure now, #3 if you have read all this your more wacked than Mike D.

I had to bend over for Namaste so he could install the DRM in my...

[scovetta]

So the record companies have decided that they can install:

• an install log file on my hard drive
• their player into ram

Which means that the player will ultimately get to my hard drive (via ram swapping). Who guarantees that the player will not mess anything up on my system? Will you pay for damages if there's a bug in the player? What if I have a non-Windows computer?

I think I speak for a growing set of people when I say that DRM, Spyware, Trojans, Malware, etc has no place on my computer, in the music I purchase, or movies I watch. I would have purchased your album, but I do NOT support the RIAA or other record companies enforcing their shitty tactics on their customers. So sorry, no $20 for me, but I will certainly tell other about the SPYWARE on your CDs. (I call it Spyware because it is set up to run automatically, without my permission, and is set to specifically restrict my right to play music that I PURCHASE).

So I have to listen to a WMA (read: compressed & of lesser quality) version of the music on my computer???

I guess anyone could just hold down the shift-key so Windows won't autorun the CD, so this isn't a big deal, but it's certainly losing you part of your audience--just look out on the 'net for what people are saying about you. Just another RIAA-owned sellout.
Link to the story on Slashdot
Blog at MIT

[limewireanime]

This totally sucks. If the spyware is so non-invasive, and supposedly "lets you use it like normal", why the f*ck do you even put it on there in the first place!! Freaking liars... I'll never buy another beastie boys album again. License to Ill didn't have spyware, it was ILL.

[pplxcnonpsj]

And why do you have the right to load a program into RAM without my permission? Am I supposed to feel better because it's not being installed to my hard drive? It's still running, and preventing me from listening to legitimately-purchased music the way I want, isn't it? Why exactly would I buy this album if I can't listen to it on my MP3 player while I jog? I wouldn't -- I would download it from the internet (where it is readily available), and under the circumstances I wouldn't care in the slightest that the Beastie Boys are not making any money from my acquisition. Congratulations -- you've encouraged more piracy!

Saying that "this was not the band's choice" is bullsh!t. Unlike all the small-time musicians who get raped by the RIAA, this particular band has enough power to dictate some terms to their label, or to start their own label if they don't like what their current label is doing. Conclusion: the Beastie Boys are greedy bastards who don't care that their label is screwing their customers. But then, since they're signed to an RIAA label, we knew that anyway, right?

[Nomen Nescio]

I'll never buy an Beastie Boys CD again, this is pathetic.

All it does is prevent average users from exercising their fair use rights to make backups, it makes it harder for them to transfer their songs to their MP3 player and in general makes the band look like dicks.

Futhermore the album was available on the internet June 4th, in full. This copy protection trojan does stuff all. You people disgust me. Dicks.

[Nomen Nescio]

Oh an lets no forget it wont run on linux, once again, you guys are dicks.

[eeg3]

Way to screw up your chances of selling tons of copies of your CD by scaring people away with your producer's evil policy. You guys sold out. Lame. I thought you were better than that.

[Chas]

The fact remains that those disks load software onto the system. Quibbling about it loading into RAM as opposed to the hard disk is more bullshit along the lines of Clinton's "I did not have sexual relations with Monica. She only sucked my dick."

Worse, you're loading these things onto the systems of people AUTOMATICALLY. WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT!

Wake up children! The people buying your albums are NOT the enemy here. The enemy is your fucking LABEL and all the bullshit they're wasting YOUR money on trying to prevent LEGITIMATE album buyers from listening to your music.

But hey, if you want to be Metallica2, fine.

Maybe when the rest of us stop buying your crap your labels can whine and cry about the lack of product movement on piracy too.

Thanks for proving that you don't actually give a shit about the fans. That you're just selling out for Big Bucks.

[paulm]

I used to buy a lot of CDs but this stuff just makes them not worth it.
I have a nice tiny Network Walkman but this crap means I can't use it so the CD is practically worthless to me.

This "Copy Controlled" rubbish doesn't stop illegal copies appearing and only effects legitimate purchasers.

Only a complete moron would think they would improve their position in the marketplace by making their product worse.

And don't give me that "it's not the Beastie Boys fault" rubbish.
If established artists like them can't stand up and do the right thing by the people who give them their hard earned cash then they can just get lost.
They won't be getting any more of mine.

[deepsub]

Originally Posted by BeastieBoys.com

It also temporarily installs a graphic "skin" for the player. Nothing is permanently installed on a hard drive. These details can be verified in the 'install.log' file in the computer's root directory.

Is this a joke? If nothing is installed on the computer, how did the install.log get there? Are these guys even paying attention?

And as for claims that U.S. discs don't have copy protection, I cry foul... Every copy I've seen has a warning on the back that essentially alleviates EMI for any 'damage' that may be caused by the disc since it is NOT a standard CD.

[wacko404]

Right,

Firstly Fuck copy protection!
Secondly if I put a CD in my computer and it installs something without my knowledge I will consider that electronic trespass and I shall sue the creators of such product. Pure and simple - I've bought your music cause I respect you & appreciate your talent. Do you dare let the music companies take the piss & try and fuck with me!? What sort of war do you think you are fighting? You can't win!? You have to remember that we are in control - if we think you suck... You shall suck. If we think you are great... you will be great... copy protection or otherwise!

Ask the Dali Lama what he thinks about information control & copywright!!?

[wacko404]

Beastie Boys:

You write an install.log to my C drive?, I shall take you & your fucking music company to court for eletronic trespass! What gives you the fucking right to touch any hardware of mine!!! I support your music & purchase your CD! and this is how you treat me!? I know it's tought to curb piracy but if you touch my hardware in anyway I shall consider that hostile action - ie.. War! & I will not resist to defend myself & prevent others from receiving the same wrath from your cd.

Mark my words, we will not bend over backwards & take it up the arse! You want to fuck with our rights?! you better get used to a battle!

Besides.. no offence or anything but... I think your previous CD's are better.. I'm a great fan & owner.. yes owner 2x of your CD R00t Down!

Cheers,
Wacko404

[limewireanime]

Now here's a little story - I've got to tell
About 3 greedy brothers - you know so well
It started awhile back in history
With the boys, their label, and the m-p-3
They had a little album whos time was near
But the internet made them tremble in fear
Got a killer plan - working for the man
Sheriff's posse in their pocket cause they in the clan
No one would get the songs for free
The solution was simple : broken technology
The CDs were coming down the factory track
The cover looked sexy - but the data was crap
Looking for some music - fans got a f*cking lie
So they flushed their records in the toilet, laughing as they die