RIAA Unveils Net Tracking Tag for Online Sales

openbear writes "A story over at MSNBC talks about the Global Release Indentifier (GRid). It is a code akin to the Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code found on a CD or cassette tape in stores. Each track will be distributed online with an individual GRid serial number and will be reported back to rights societies and collection agencies sold or transferred."

and they intend to do this how?

[inteller]

and exactly what kind of file format can this tag be imbedded into? in order for it to work you have to have a transport medium. Yet another brilliant idea from the people who brought us Hillary Rosen.

Ahhhaaa

[T3kno]

The G stands for Get, as in GetRid of the RIAA.

in other news

[Anonymous Coward]

the code to remove the tag has already been written and is avilable for distribution.

Why Thankyou RIAA

[jamesjw]

Yet another reason not to buy CD's anymore!

Not that there is much worth buying these days anyhow :)

Wonder whats next?

"Sir, we're happy to sell this new album to you - just piss in this specimin jar and supply a drop of blood on the application provided..."

Jeez!

Proper terminology

[cheezus_es_lard]

Indentify? What, is the unique ID so that the RIAA can indenture you while you work off the money you owe from your MP3 collection?

Steganography?

[Nathan Ramella]

They should just have the artist repeating a watermark chorus.

"This mp3 was stolen.
This mp3 was stolen.
This mp3 was stolen.
This mp3 was stolen... and she loves me!"

Oh, that;s good then

[thatguywhoiam]

Excellent! Finally someone has stepped up and provided a nice, complete solution to the record companies prob... hey, hold on:

Jessop cautioned that GRid is not designed, nor is it intended for, keeping track of songs that wind up on online file-sharing networks

... oh. I guess you can just... rename the file, or something.

So really, they have just figured out a way to do this:

resellers would be charged an annual fee of 150 pounds ($245.10)

Yeah, that sounds about right.

Damn eyes.. what are they good for?

[Bizaff]

On Monday, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) reported a 3.7 percent decline in recorded music sales in the fourth quarter of 2002...

When I first read that, I thought it said British Pornographic Industry.. that sure changed the tone of the article...

this would be cool.. if it worked

[Lxy]

The basic idea (because I know you didn't read the article) is that online retailers can issue unique IDs to track online sales. If used properly, this could prove that internet sales DO work and MP3s are GOOD for the industry. The article also states that it's not an attempt to curb/track file sharing.

Now, the flipside is that this is the RIAA. They probably have a devious use for the ID, probably just so they can prove they have a system in place. Whether or not they'll be manipulating the numbers in their favor and implementing a tracking system is another question, but knowing their past history, it wouldn't surprise me.

And finally, was I the only one, or does "International Federation of Phonographic Industry" look like "International Federation of Pornographic Industry" on first glance?

Their method is uncrackable to resampling

[merlyn]

From what I understand, it's an audible voice that comes on at 15-second intervals reading the serial number "This is copy three... one... five... four... one... nine... one".

True enough, the RIAA spokesman reportedly said "This will have no effect on the quality of the recording".

Re:This is news?

[leonardluen]

so what happens when i alter the id3 tags and they Audit my hard drive to find i have 20,000 copies of "Hit the Road Jack"?

Re:I don't think so...

[HisMother]

> ... I don't have or use any form of banking system. I live strictly by GREEN CASH ALONE and have nothing at all to do with any financial institute in any form.

Cool. If this gets out, I bet he'll have LOTS of friends who want to come over and play -- say, dig in the yard, play hide and seek in Dad's bedroom...

what's next?

[porky_pig_jr]

I am looking forward having MY (as a customer) personal tracking number assigned to me and embedded in my body as a microchip - courtesy of RIAA.

Re:I don't think so...

[Didion Sprague]

Please explain how a 17-year-old who is limited by labor law from earning enough $$$ to buy CDs happens to have his own car.

Gift?

I mean, just because you disdain financial institutions doesn't mean you can't give groovy gifts to your kid.

Slightly, OT:

I'm impressed you're managing to live without financial institutions. But are you pulling a Tony Soprano and stashing cash around the house? In the compost bin? Up in the attic?

I mean, at some point, the volume of green must get a little overwhelming. (Unless you give a lot of gifts and don't let the green accumulate.)

Re:The sky is falling, the sky is falling!

[no_opinion]

Dude, this is slashdot. No one actually reads the RIAA related stuff, they just whip out the conspiracy theories, flames, "here's how we can keep stealing music without being tracked" and "p2p is not stealing" posts.

The time of cognitive dissonance is long gone. This topic has no room for logic - slashdot has moved onto emotion and rationalization.

Re:You call yourself a geek?!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Is crapulocity really a cromulent word?

Re:So, You Think RIAA Music Is Crappy?

[grondu]

Have you heard me sing in the shower lately?

The RIAA now knows that you do this, and tomorrow you will be joined in the shower by Hillary Rosen, who will be there to collect royalties on the songs you sing.

Re:This is news?

[Thing 1]

You won't come back no more no more.