Research firm Gartner has concluded that any DRM scheme for music CDs is doomed to failure. The company said they doubt music publishers will ever find a workable solution. Sony's ill-fated DRM technology only highlights this, despite RIAA sanction. The public-relations fiasco Sony is now facing is proof enough of this.

'The user simply applies a fingernail-sized piece of opaque tape to the outer edge of the disc,' report the analysts. 'The PC then treats the CD as an ordinary single-session music CD, and the commonly used CD "rip" programs continue to work as usual.'

'Sony BMG's DRM technology will prevent neither informed casual copiers nor high-volume "pirates" from doing whatever they like with the content the disc.'