EMI, Apple Disagree on Copy Protection

EMI said Thursday that its copy-protected music CDs would soon play on Apple iPods, but the maker of the best-selling portable player denied that was the case.

Copy-protected CDs are the industry’s latest move towards combating music piracy, however the technology employed often makes discs only compatible with Windows-based computers and players. The industry has attempted to push Apple to support Windows Media DRM on the iPod, but to no avail.

"The information EMI provided regarding iTunes and iPod compatibility with Macrovision’s technology is not true and we have no idea why EMI made this statement," Apple retorted.

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EMI claims that its version of copyright protection differs from that which Sony uses. No hidden files or software are installed on the computer.

Users can rip EMI CDs once, and transfer an album to compatible MP3 players or burn it to a blank CD three times. Each individual track can be burned to CD up to seven times. But the technology relies on Windows Media DRM, which is not supported through iTunes.

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