"...Macrovision announced today that its SafeAudio Toolkit for CD-audio copy-protection has completed an initial beta test with a major record label. This test was conducted by the customer in advance of initiating a round of internal testing for the beta version of the SafeAudio technology itself. SafeAudio is a secure audio copy protection process that was jointly developed by Macrovision and TTR Technologies. It is applied during the mastering process at CD manufacturing facilities and is designed to prevent unauthorized copying of music CDs.

A key feature of the SafeAudio Toolkit is that it enables the copy-protection preparation of the master to be done within the mastering facility on existing replication equipment: in essence, automating the copy-protection process and keeping the original unprotected master file secured. The toolkit includes the SafeAudio protection generator (SPG) program, currently integrated with the Media Morphics and Eclipse EFM encoders, and runs on standard PC Windows 95/98/ME/NT4 and Windows 2000 platforms. Additional mastering equipment vendors will soon be added to the supported list.

The SafeAudio Toolkit will be distributed with Macrovision's SafeCast digital rights management technology that enables "time lock" and "number of usage lock" functions while providing persistent security. This feature ensures that CD replication facilities will always be using the latest release of SafeAudio and by allowing Macrovision to control the timing and delivery of toolkit upgrades..." NULL