What Bandlink is not telling you is that the technology that they claim to have developed also has the ability to scrape the ISRC (a unique identifier that is embedded in your audio CD’s track 0) or any other embedded identifier from your CD and report it (and all the other info the app gathers) back to the recording companies.
So what? Well, the next time you burn that CD and share the track, that unique identifier is right there – easily identifying you as the buyer of the “legitimate” CD and the distributor of the pirated copy. That identifier can be transferred from the original recording to any pirated file format. That coupled with the other data they are collecting from you … well, you might as well give them your home address.
How do I know this? Ironically, I designed an application (CDiSee/IdentifEye) to do exactly what Bandlink’s CD Intelligence does. But I did it over almost years ago. And just happened to share it with a BMG Music VP. What a coinky-dink. Do I care? No, not when I see how they intended to use it and on whom (tweens). If you want to see the original time/date stamped functional design document, just let me know …
If you don’t know what an ISRC is, go here:
– feathr_lite
That software was ahead of its time and tstill provides a semblance of opportunity. The sole purpose was create a unique experience of the consumer. An experience as one gets at a concert. Think artist connecting with all fans with iphone yet through the cd. and internet combined.
Most software technologists rarely think of privacy issues when they develop. They just want to create something cool. One should be afraid of going to wal-mart as this software had no privacy issues in comparison.
James
Then it’s a good thing I didn’t install the Bandlink software when I inserted a CD from my public library. Not that I distribute pirated music, mind you. But would it really matter? I mean, since the disc belongs to the library, wouldn’t it just show their address?