Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc will announce today (Monday, April 26) that it is adopting copyright protection mechanisms for its Rio PMP300 player, a device for playing music downloaded from the internet. Because the Rio plays music compressed with the controversial – because unprotected – MP3 format, the recording industry has attacked it as a vehicle for intellectual property pirates.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) last year sued Diamond in an attempt to prevent it from shipping the device. When it failed to obtain an injunction, RIAA launched the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) to create a copyright- protected alternative to MP3. If Diamond can demonstrate that the Rio will not play pirated MP3s, industry opposition to the device might evaporate. Diamond is reported to be working with Intertrust Technologies Corp to secure the audio files that are playable on the Rio. á
