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XM Radio pulls PC-based receiver over piracy concerns
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2004 13:04:49 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: PRIVACY Forum <privacy () vortex com> Date: September 7, 2004 11:54:32 AM EDT To: dave () farber net Cc: lauren () vortex com Subject: XM Radio pulls PC-based receiver over piracy concerns Dave, You'll recall the buzz recently about a software package people were using to collect *analog* copies of songs off XM Radio using a PC-basedreceiver (which passed along the title information, etc. to the software).
XM has now killed distribution of that PC-receiver unit. Unfortunately for XM, a very similar functionality is obviously possible using any of their other receivers (or with any radio receiver for that matter) -- keep in mind we're talking about analog copying, not digital. The only big difference is if (or how easily) song title and related information is captured as well, and there are several simple avenues to dealing with that, especially given the Internet. This one is a losing battle for XM and its ilk, despite content providers' fervent hope of closing what they call the "analog hole" to the greatest extent possible. --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein lauren () pfir org or lauren () vortex com or lauren () privacyforum org Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 http://www.pfir.org/laurenCo-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, Fact Squad - http://www.factsquad.org Co-Founder, URIICA - Union for Representative International Internet Cooperation and Analysis - http://www.uriica.org Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy - - - XM Radio pulls PC hardware amid piracy concerns By Paul Festa Staff Writer, CNET News.com Story last modified August 30, 2004, 4:58 PM PDT Owners of a controversial PC radio receiver are making a killing selling their units on eBay following the unit's discontinuation over music piracy concerns. Before being quietly discontinued this month, the XM PCR was one of several hardware devices sold by XM Satellite Radio to give its more than 2 million subscribers satellite radio reception. In conjunction with a third-party software title called TimeTrax, however, the PCR let listeners download songs to their personal computers. Since XM discontinued the PCR, units have fetched steep premiums on eBay. The device, which retailed for about $50, is getting bids of more than $350 in recent auctions, with sellers advertising the unit as "discontinued" and "rare." ... http://news.com.com/2100-1026-5330698.html ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- XM Radio pulls PC-based receiver over piracy concerns David Farber (Sep 07)