Sony bought Gracenote (formerly known as CDDB)

[30DoorKey]

This is automated id3 lookup service used by all software players such as iTunes, SonicStage, WMP, MediaSource etc. I wonder what Sony does next with this. More power to Sony anyway:

Sony Buys Gracenote for $260 Million - Lifestyle News - Digital Trends

[Alchemist]

With the ongoing trend of acquiring companies, this is considered a lucrative deal. I hope this works for Sony.

[justintime]

Originally Posted by Alchemist

With the ongoing trend of acquiring companies, this is considered a lucrative deal. I hope this works for Sony.

Not sure where you got the information that this is considered a lucrative deal. General opinion in the industry is that Sony paid too much for Gracenote, and they have probably made a mistake.

Many are worried that Sony will try to use the service to spy on users to detect what music is being ripped or added to individual libraries. Given Sony's bad track record with DRM and the rootkit scandal, and that Gracenote bad reputation for unscrupulous behavior in the industry, there is good reason to be worried.

[justintime]

Originally Posted by 30DoorKey

This is automated id3 lookup service used by all software players such as iTunes, SonicStage, WMP, MediaSource etc.

This is not quite accurate.

Gracenote is used by such players iTunes, SonicStage and some others.

WMP, RealPlayer, Rhapsody, Iriver, and others use AMG.

JetAudio, Nero, and others use FreeDB.

[Paule14]

Originally Posted by justintime

Not sure where you got the information that this is considered a lucrative deal. General opinion in the industry is that Sony paid too much for Gracenote, and they have probably made a mistake.

Many are worried that Sony will try to use the service to spy on users to detect what music is being ripped or added to individual libraries. Given Sony's bad track record with DRM and the rootkit scandal, and that Gracenote bad reputation for unscrupulous behavior in the industry, there is good reason to be worried.

Maybe the user wanted to say that the deal was lucrative on the part of Gracenote. If they really were indeed paid too much, then of course it's an advantage for Gracenote because they got a sweet deal and way extra bucks.

If Sony will use the service to spy on users to detect what music is being ripped off or added to individual libraries, shouldn't that be a good thing especially for those who abhor piracy?

[justintime]

Originally Posted by Paule14

Maybe the user wanted to say that the deal was lucrative on the part of Gracenote. If they really were indeed paid too much, then of course it's an advantage for Gracenote because they got a sweet deal and way extra bucks.

Agreed. No offense intended. This deal is great for Gracenote shareholders. General opinion is that Sony paid too much.

Originally Posted by Paule14

If Sony will use the service to spy on users to detect what music is being ripped off or added to individual libraries, shouldn't that be a good thing especially for those who abhor piracy?

I guess so. As a founding member of the RIAA and supporter of their lawsuits, huge proponent of DRM, and the people who brought us the rootkit scandal, I suppose some people would be very happy to have Sony checking out their music collections on a regular basis via Gracenote. Not me.

For example, if you happen to get a CDR from a friend and rip it in iTunes or WinAmp for example, Sony/Gracenote is going to know you have a CDR. Maybe you should not have received that CDR from your friend. Maybe it is how you discover new music and you planned on buying the actual CD. Whatever the reason, you could become the target of a lawsuit. This is not a good thing.

If you don't mind the possibility of being labeled a criminal, then go right ahead and use Sony/Gracenote powered software. If you do mind the risk of becoming an unwitting criminal, then the intelligent thing to do is use a CD ripper that does not use Gracenote. There are plenty out there.

[Gatekeeper]

Paule, Justin --- you two raised valid points. Hopefully some more users would join in the discussion.

[TomJ]

I have a feeling that Gracenote has offered Sony something more than just what the public knows. Call me a conspiracy theorist but there could be hidden agendas, future tie-ups and exchange deals. I think this is just part of the industry's aim to eradicate piracy. For all we know, there are other deals out there between two small yet substantially important companies that also have the same aim just like this Sony-Gracenote tie-up.

[Alchemist]

Originally Posted by justintime

Not sure where you got the information that this is considered a lucrative deal. General opinion in the industry is that Sony paid too much for Gracenote, and they have probably made a mistake.

Many are worried that Sony will try to use the service to spy on users to detect what music is being ripped or added to individual libraries. Given Sony's bad track record with DRM and the rootkit scandal, and that Gracenote bad reputation for unscrupulous behavior in the industry, there is good reason to be worried.

The industry does seem to have common perceptions that Sony made a mistake for buying Gracenote. On my part though, the deal seemed to be lucrative for Gracenote and not Sony. Anyway, let's just see how things go in a few months or so.

[justintime]

"The Bloody History of Gracenote" is posted at Slashdot's firehose.