SPAM
COMPUTER LAW ASSIGNMENT Daniel Bennett 21/02/03 Computer Law BSc BBIT (Year1) 1) Microsoft Windows Media Data Session Toolkit has been created to prevent consumers from breaking copyright laws; this is particularly aimed at the music industry, which has seen a major decline in sales due to ‘internet piracy’. “global sales of CD’s expected to fall six percent this year- the fourth consecutive annual decline. A major culprit, industry watchers say, is online piracy.” The new software allows the consumer to play back media on many different formats including a PC and car stereo’s (errors on past DRM (digital rights management) software is that consumers where unable to do this). Allowing playback on PC is a major advantage because it will allow PC applications and Add-on’s to be included on the media, promotions and extras like this can encourage more sales. The DRM software allows the media to be multi layered, one layer which is used to play back the media on a normal format and another digital level which can be edited to prevent breach of copy right laws. “The PC layer, laid digitally on the same disc, can be modified by the content provider, so that they could prevent for example burning songs on to another CD” . The new Software will prevent un authorised copying on to CD’s. The major technical function of this is that it allows the consumer freedom to be able to play the media any way they like while still providing protection for artists/content providers. Microsoft should get the return on their Research and Development investment as the new software has created some excitement with major content providers. ‘Universal Music and EMI, two of the biggest record labels in the world ‘are excited about this because it enables the industry to build a CD with there own protections built in’ Billions of CD’s and DVD’s are sold worldwide so if the software is able to achieve its main objectives then content providers will purchase this software, those that don’t will lose there competitive advantage as well as sales. If Microsoft is able to deliver what they have boasted the new software will be far better than competitors such as Sony and Phillips in the DRM market, due to the errors and non user-friendly software they have produced, which was could also be overridden. The amount of money, which was spent, on R and D is very small compared to how much profit content providers revenue is each year.