Hello Everyone! Thanks for reading my post!

Just to fill you guys in, according to the RIAA, it is illegal to transfer a Music file from a CD onto a computer. I am in the process of getting rights to digitally copy music in this way. I am reaching some roadblocks when it comes to encryption and keeping the files secure.
I need to prove to the lawyers that I am using a "protected" format so that thier music will not be stolen or misshandled. My options that I have found would include locking an entire hard drive with the files on it with drivecrypt or any similar encrytpion suites. Or I could lock each individual files with thier own proprietary encryption methods.
There are a few problems with both of these methods. The problem with locking the entire drive is that if someone "unlocks" the drive they could then copy the files onto another non-protected hard drive and then have complete access to the entire library unprotected. This in not good, and does not proove to the RIAA that I have came up with a secure solution.
The next option - encrypting each file individually - seems to be a better idea for security but then limits me a lot. This method can be compaired with napster, or ITunes, they developed an encrypted file that only works within thier software. The encrypted music then can only be played in thier proprietary software. _That_ is the problem. These files are going to be with me for quite a long time. I expect to rip these files for use in the future. If I lock myself to a format that limits use to a particular program, then when better things come along, I am limited to using the old software that the files were originally intended for.
What I need to find is a way that I can encrypt an Mp3 using the drivecrypt type encryption method - (allowing me to lock and unlock the drive). And then make it impossible or very difficult to copy the file off of the drive. So I would like to grant users only "use rights", not copy or duplicate. In other words, I am asking a very difficult question... Is there a way to prevent copy of a file, but allow use of the file... The file must be able to be used in different software such as winamp, and other mp3 players ( PCDJ ). This makes it hard to use proprietary encryption...


Thanks for reading my post and I look forward to discussing this issue with you guys. I'm sorry about the rough writing in this note, I hope I explained it well enough. Thanks!

If you can hear it, you can copy it. 'nuff said.

You don't need to do that.

Ever heard of fair use? You can do anything you want with copyrighted material you have purchased as long as you use it in your own home without profit.

You can rip to any format that you want. Legally. iTunes does it (legally, and without encryption), same with Windows Media Player, and Real Player, and a variety of other popular music jukebox software.

If you have Win2000/XP/NT format the drive to NTFS and use the built in encryption. It is completely irrelevant how easy or difficult it is to break this encryption, thanks to your (I assume you're from the states if you're worried about the RIAA) not so fair DMCA it is illegal for anyone to try and circumvent your encryption...which puts copying your mp3 library on the same grounds as if the actual cd's were stolen from you....which is not your fault.

As for a per-file solution...there are no good solutions. IMHO.

Why you are worrying about this at all is beyond me though, like PowerMacG4 said, it is entirely legal to do whatever you want with any cd's you purchased as long as it's not public broadcast and/or distribution. And if this is for distribution or a public network radio type scheme there is no amount of encryption that is going to make it legal in their eyes, they will not support this type of thing until they can get a stranglehold on it's usage.

And all of that doesn't really matter because apart from it not working, DRM is bad for you as well as everyone else.

That's not quite accurate. It's illegal to provide information or distribute tools that would let someone circumvent encryption, e.g. you can use deCSS or a similar tool to view or make backup copies of a DVD movie you purchased, but it is illegal to distribute deCSS or a description of how it works. Of course, it's illegal to decrypt something then commit copyright violation, but that's because of traditional copyright law, not the DMCA.

This post should not be constured to imply that the DMCA isn't a totally bonerific law, because it is, in fact, completely and utterly bonerific.

Anyone care to fill the two gaping holes in my vocabulary this profound thread exposed: versital, bonerific?

Versatile means flexible and having many skills. Bonerific means bad, but don't ask about its derivation.

Jay, are you just an average person ripping CDs for your own use? If so, ignore the RIAA lawyers; what you're doing is fair, private use and is perfectly legal. (Even the RIAA hasn't sued anybody over just that, though contacting them probably didn't help you any.)

But if you're not an average person (i.e., you're starting a music store or something), I'd be interested to hear the circumstances. If you are starting a store, then no offense, but the last thing we need is yet another way to pay for crippled files. If you could get them to let you sell uncrippled files, they'd sell like hotcakes. Tell them that for me.

Have fun.

That's very interesting. Makes some very good points.

Oh, ok... of course, not being a resident of the US it doesn't really mean a whole lot to me anyways. If I sounded like I was implying the law was not entirely bonerific, then I must apologize, it most definetly is.