RIAA consumer control BioDiscs
Following decisions by the members of the Big 4 organised music cartel,
Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG, to
partially abandon DRM, the RIAA is developing a biometric CD to replace Digital Restrictions Management consumer control.
Using technology developed by The Amergence Group, aka SunnComm
International, the radically new BioCDs will have thumbprint receptors
positioned in their centres.
“The first time a consumer purchases a BioCD, he or she will be
required to sign a licensing agreement and to register his or her
thumbprint, which will then be permanently stored in a special database
linked directly to the FBI’s integrated Automated Fingerprint
Identification System, more commonly known as
IAFIS,” explains RIAA spokeswoman Sarah Cluckworth, going on:
“The cool new legal BioCDs will serve a dual purpose.
“Everyone loves music and they will enable the FBI to possibly
identify and apprehend criminals via the special RIAA automatic point
of purchase notification system.
“When someone who is wanted by the authorities registers, a message
is sent to the nearest police headquarters, and all outlet doors are
locked to prevent the individual’s escape.”
More importantly, “BioDiscs will enable us to track consumers and
acquire invaluable data on their musical preferences such as where they
shop, how much they pay, and other information,” she says.
“This will allow us to better serve them and enhance their purchasing experience.”
BioDiscs also have a third purpose, says RIAA president Cary Sherman.
Each unit ‘recognises’ its rightful owner and, “In the centre of
each receptor is a tiny needle (see yellow arrow) which is released
when someone who is not licensed or otherwise authorised to use the
disk attempts to play it,” he states, continuing:
“As part of the RIAA
Tough Love campaign,
it injects a long-lasting, but harmless, irritant which causes an itchy
pustule to develop in the area penetrated by the needle.
“This leaves few secondary effects.”
BioDiscs will initially be tested exclusively by Sony BMG, “because
it has the most experienced with embedded consumer control technology,”
says Cluckworth.
When initial trials are over, Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal
will employ the sensing technology on all of their music CD releases.
“I’m tremendously excited by this,” says Universal boss Doug Morris.
“It represents a solution we have all been looking for and may well
teach users how to use our product in a responsible manner at the same
time, allowing law-enforcement personnel who are currently enforcing
copyright legislation to resume normal duties.”
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