James Delahunty
23 Aug 2004 16:11
Macrovision, one of the world's leading copy protection providers, plans to add iPod and iTunes support to its software in Q4 according to mailings sent out with the company's CDS-300 version 7 beta release. The company is confident that it will be able to incorporate FairPlay support into its CDS-300 copy control mechanism. This report would suggest that Macrovision has licensed Apple's DRM technology or are very confident of doing so.
Macrovision wants to use this technology to provide iTunes ready compressed audio tracks as well as Windows Media Audio files in its CDS-300 copy protection mechanism. Real Networks also wanted to use FairPlay to open an online music store for iPod users. The Q4 update is also expected to include its RealTime DRM Encoding system, which will allow users to convert the disc's audio to FairPlay-protected AAC files, ATRAC 3 tracks or Windows Media Audio files.
Reaching an agreement with Apple will mean that copy protected CDs in the future will not leave iTunes users out and will give users the ability to choose an alternative to Microsoft software.
Source:
The Register