Not content with suing music fans for copying their favourite music, the record industry has decided to go one step further and may install piracy-checking software in the music players themselves.
That's one possible plan under discussion by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, which is trying to form a consensus with various industry bodies and mobile phone operators.
Little snitch
The notion is that the RIAJ would work with the phone companies to get verification software on every handset. It could then 'phone home' every time the audio player is activated to check if a track was bought legally or not.
Inside sources say not only is such a move possible because the phone networks dictate what software appears on handsets in Japan, but that it's highly likely to be up and running by 2011.
Non-conformers beware
Exactly where that leaves people wanting to listen to ripped versions of CDs they own or even their own recordings is unclear, but we'd wager a hefty sum on them being left out in the cold.
Via FT.com
Your comments (2) Click to add a new comment
modularcarpet
September 14th
2. I will never buy mp3's. I don't download illegally either. I would much rather buy a CD and rip it into a format that I want (Ogg, mp3 FLAC or whatever) and at the bitrate I require.
As Watcherzero says, I would never buy a phone that prevents me from listening to my own music legally purchased on CD.
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watcherzero
September 13th
1. The thing is would you buy a mobile that uploaded the details of your entire music collection to the network operator by text every couple of days?
Consumers will vote with their wallets.
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