[Free-sklyarov-uk] Feedback from CD player manufacturer

[Jim Peters]

Someone has recently been in contact with me regarding his efforts to
make some progress with sorting out the CD issue.  He complained to
the manufacturer of his CD equipment, who replied via E-mail.  Due to
the disclaimer on the bottom of that E-mail, I can't post it exactly,
but instead, I'll provide a summary of what was said.

- Firstly, the manufacturer's representative says that they can only
guarantee the playability on their equipment of CDs recorded to the
Red Book standard.

- Then he mentions that the `protection licence' is currently expiring
on CDs, and that this explains why modified CD formats are starting to
appear.

- All the manufacturer could suggest in this situation is to return
the CD to the retailer.  The representative notes that some non-"Red
Book" CDs now have warnings.

The point about licences expiring is an interesting point which I was
not aware of.  Apparently Barry Fox (the author of several New
Scientist articles on "copy-protection") has already pointed out that
several audio CD patents have now expired, in issue 98 of Home
Entertainment magazine.  He writes:

> 'Any technology that changes essential characteristics of a disc to
> put it outside the audio CD standard results in a disc that should
> no longer be described or marketed as a CD. If there is a reasonable
> chance of playability problems we believe it is a necessary
> requirement that the record companies provide a clear warning'.

For details of the expired patents, see the Philips site here:

  http://www.licensing.philips.com/licensees/patent/documents61.html

I'm speculating that now the patents have expired, there is no longer
any central control on the CD format, and nor is there any financial
incentive for someone to try to control it if patent fees are no
longer payable.  Correct me if my thinking is incorrect here.

If it is true that Sony/Philips are no longer taking an interest in
maintaining the CD "Red Book" standard as a standard, then someone
else surely has to take that role, most probably a government
department of some sort (OFT, Trading Standards, whoever).

Has anyone else got any background info on this that might help to
expand on this idea ?  If we can put together a good case on this, we
could perhaps approach one of the government departments.  Any
thoughts on this ?

Jim

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