OpenMG is a digital rights management (DRM) system developed by Sony for managing and protecting digital music data on a personal computer. It was originally designed for audio files in ATRAC3 format; the compliant software, e.g. Sony SonicStage , is usually capable of transcoding MP3 and WAV files to OpenMG/ATRAC3. The file extensions OpenMG-encrypted files use are .omg and .oma .
9-617: Sister technologies OpenMG Light (for mobile devices) and OpenMG X were also created. OpenMG was created alongside MagicGate in an effort to protect digital music copyright. It was released alongside the Memory Stick Walkman and VAIO Music Clip. It is compliant with the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) version 1.0 industry group specification formed in February 1999. There has been at least one reported case when
18-445: A security update of Windows XP and Windows 2000 broke OpenMG-compliant software. This issue was later resolved. Audio files encrypted using OpenMG cannot be played on another computer. OpenMG consists of a "check-in" and "check-out" system, whereby a music file can be transferred from a computer to up to three portable devices. It cannot be transferred to a fourth, unless at least one of the other three devices gets checked back in to
27-448: Is a copy-protection technology introduced by Sony in 1999 as part of the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI). It works by encrypting the content on the device and using MagicGate chips in both the storage device and the reader to enforce control over how files are copied. MagicGate encryption was introduced with Sony's first digital audio players , with the related OpenMG technology being its software counterpart. Since then,
36-613: The computer. The compliant music organization systems work by "checking out" and "checking in" the files to/from portable players, keeping only one copy unlocked in order to hinder proliferation of copies. SonicStage 3.4 includes an option to remove DRM from one's entire media library, allowing unrestricted use. However, this feature is disabled for copies without a license. The 'checking in' and 'checking out' of files can be cumbersome and risky in comparison with unprotected data. Side effects include user complaints of being locked out of their own original recordings, unable to transfer them to
45-418: The computer. With some Sony portable audio players it is not possible to directly drag and drop the desired tracks to the device's visible directory. With the combination of OpenMG with MagicGate , Sony intends to restrict the files to be only moved instead of copied, artificially emulating the restrictions of physical objects. However, as of the most recent releases of Sonicstage, files can be "checked out" of
54-664: The encryption has been rolled out to other Sony devices – it is used in the memory cards of the PlayStation 2 and, as of 2004 , has been introduced into all of Sony's Memory Stick products. Some devices will only accept Memory Sticks which use MagicGate technology. All Memory Stick Duo cards equipped with MagicGate can be identified by a notch located on the rear end of the card. Few ( USB or PC Card ) Memory Stick-compatible memory card readers support secure MagicGate. Although manufacturers list Memory Stick Pro/Pro Duo (MG) compatibility, where MG means MagicGate, they may not support
63-532: The library an unlimited number of times to a portable device, without the need to "check in" any of them. There has been anecdotal evidence that OpenMG modules tend to "choke" reading corrupted MP3 ID3 tags. A Wall Street Journal article that reviewed the Sony VAIO Music Clip player in 2000 noted that the OpenMG and MagicGate technologies "treats users like criminals". MagicGate MagicGate (MG)
72-613: The security portion of MagicGate. This becomes important when purchasing a card reader/writer for use with SonicStage and Sony CONNECT as even Sony itself does not fully support MagicGate on certain readers. Non-MagicGate memory card reader/writers do not show up in SonicStage, with the notable exception of Sony Ericsson phones. Current Sony devices that support MagicGate DRM as of summer 2007: Current Sony Devices that do not support MagicGate DRM as of summer 2007: Current Sony Devices that do not support MagicGate DRM as of summer 2007, but
81-457: The support may be possible via future firmware updates: In March 2009, Sony Electronics announced they were phasing out the Sony CONNECT service in favor of Windows Media Audio & Windows Media DRM, though they have not officially announced plans to continue a Windows Media DRM music service, either. As of June 2009, the future of MagicGate DRM was unknown. MagicGate slots were still a part of
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