Sony BMG have been working on a new protected audio CD to slow down music pirates.

The CDs will be equipped with Microsoft’s Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) software and allow people to make up to three CD copies for personal use as well as the ability to store the files on their own computer.

UK firm First4Internet created the technology to combat the excessive trading that goes on between users on peer to peer networks.

“This technology is a speed bump. It’s trying to dissuade the average consumer from making as many copies as they like,” First4Internet Chief Executive Mathew Gilliat-Smith told Reuters.

The main goal behind this project is to stop the Average Joe from spreading music around freely.

“You’re not going to stop tracks getting on P2P sites,” he added. “It’s designed to stop casual piracy … It’s not saying you’ll stop people from doing it, but it makes people stop and think.”

The only issue with this technology is that it won’t work with Apple’s iPod music player, the most popular MP3 player on the market today. The reason for this is because Apple will not open up their DRM and won’t support Windows Media DRM.

So far, over 2 million CDs have been sold using this technology in the United States.






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