Fraunhofer Institute which invented the well known MP3 audio format has developed a prototype technology aimed that curbing file sharing piracy. Unlike DRM measures which typically encrypt and lock the song such that it can only play back on authorised equipment, their technology relies on a tracking system that traces who shares out what based on its own digital watermarking technology. The watermarking system is designed to work with music publishers who wish to offer music in the popular MP3 format.
When a user purchases a song, it is embedded with a hash value that links the content provider to the registered user who purchased the track. To prevent this song from being pirated, Fraunhofer's system tracks popular file sharing networks for content illegally shared out and samples any suspect content it encounters. If it detects a watermarked track, the hash can be looked up against a database of known hashes and the details of who illegally shared out the track can be dealt with, depending on the legal system of the country that person is located.
While most illegally shared music is in the MP3 format, the MP3 format itself is not the main blame behind online piracy. The institute compared it to a knife which can cut bread, but in the wrong hands, it can also kill someone. Finally, the institute also explained how their system is superior to DRM: Once someone breaks the DRM on a protected file or re-records the track into an unprotected format, it can be freely shared out with difficulty in tracing the original culprit, however with the institute's new MP3 anti-piracy system, it is more difficult in completely removing the watermark and it is hard to be certain that the watermark has been completely removed either.
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Researchers at the Fraunhofer Integrated Publication and Information Systems Institute have successfully tested a software system, based on the group's own digital watermarking technology, for tracking pirated audio files in P-to-P (peer-to-peer) file-sharing networks, said Michael Kip, a spokesman for the institute. Kip referred to the Fraunhofer approach as an alternative to DRM (digital rights management) systems, which he said require special players and are prone to hacking. While watermarking technology isn't new per se, this is the first time it has been used in a system to automatically track pirating in P-to-P networks, according to Kip. |
It seems like the trusty MP3 format after all can beat all the DRM restrictive measures out there in tackling piracy, however to the music industry if there is no restrictions, it will not be effective. In my opinion, the MP3 anti-piracy approach has its advantages and drawbacks. The main advantages include having compatibility with pretty much every MP3 player on the market, including iPods. If someone does manage to defeat the watermark, it is possible to create a new version, unlike DRM where a new firmware would have to be issued for all supporting players.
Unfortunately it does have a drawback in that if one does accidentally share out one or more songs over a file sharing network, the user could face legal issues if any of the leaked files becomes detected and traced later on, even long after the incident. Also, the user would need to trust anyone they do decide to share any music with since all it would take is a careless person to share out the music and the original person who bought is at risk.
Source: PC World
