Industry targets music journalists with piracy controls
By STEVEN PATRICK
Monday November 17, 2003
PETALING JAYA: Local music journalists have expressed shock and disbelief over new "digital watermarking" measures taken by record companies in an effort to discourage reviewers from putting new releases online.
Advance copies of the latest Pearl Jam Lost Dogs and Linkin Park, Live in Texas CDs come with a unique watermarking technology that identifies the journalist.
This watermark is an invisible line within each track that carries a code number specific to the journalist.
This is just the latest move by the record industry in its -- at times -- paranoid efforts to stem the tide of digital piracy. Last year, review CDs of the Pearl Jam album Riot Act were sent out to American music reviewers in portable CD players that were glued shut!
In Malaysia, music reviewers recently received the new watermarked Linkin Park release with an accompanying letter from Warner Bros. which stated, "illegal file trading and piracy are two of the most daunting issues facing the music industry today, and we at Warner Bros. Records are working very hard to deal with these problems.
"One of our efforts to thwart unauthorised copying of CDs is to watermark the CDs we distribute."
The one-page letter said that, "Watermarking enables us to track the CD back to the original authorised recipient.
"As part of this effort, the enclosed advance Linkin Park, Live in Texas CD has been individually watermarked with a unique identification number embedded in the music. This watermark is not changed or destroyed by extracting clips of the music, or by using any compression technology such as MP3.
"By accepting this CD, you agree not to make any copies of the CD, to not play the CD in your computer and to not upload the CD or any part of it available on the Internet. You agree that you will not lend this CD to anyone, and that you alone will listen to this CD for promotional purposes. Accordingly, you will not play this CD for anyone."
Nothing personal, mates
Warner Music marketing manager Adrian Lim said journalists should not take it personally as it was just a precaution.
All record companies have already embarked on watermarking measures for their staff from a year ago, and have recently decided to extend it to journalists for advance copies, he said.
However, he could not give details on the watermarking technology.
If any record company staff is found abusing copyright laws, this will result in instant dismissal.
"It's all about telling people not to treat intellectual property lightly. It stops the leaks from within the industry," said Universal Music managing director Sandy Monteiro.
StarMag music reviewer Sujesh Pavithran understands the point as "copyright is open to abuse online," but said that the recording industry is becoming "more and more paranoid."
Another StarMag reviewer Daryl Goh said this "Orwellian" exercise made him uncomfortable.
"You're doing a job but they're monitoring you. Not all music reviewers are into illegal file trading. It feels all too 'Big Brother' for me. Trust is fast becoming extinct in the industry," he said.
Malay Mail entertainment editor Zainal Alam said, "It's insulting because we don't do such things like online downloading. We must have our integrity.
"We call ourselves reviewers because we need to preview things and tell people in advance. That's our job," he said.
"It's not a wise move," concurred his colleague Adly Syairi.
"What's the point in the first place? The source is still there on the Net," he added.
Some reviewers felt that the rapport that has been built up between journalists and the music industry is diminishing quickly.
However, the recording industry maintains it was merely protecting its assets.
Copy protection: Friend or foe
