SDMI is an acronym for Secure Music Digital Initiative. it’s a standard that music playback devices impose as an after-sale restriction. More specifically, it’s part of digital rights management and aims to prevent the illegal sharing of music files or pirating of music. Now defunct, SDMI went so far as to challenge hackers to try and break through its security.
Technipages Explains SDMI
Originally a forum formed in 1998, the SDMI gave its name to the standard developed at the forum. The point of the forum was to come up with a solution to the rampant problem of illegal music sharing, piracy and the dent it putting into the profits of the artists that created the content. The solution the forum decided on was a new form of digital rights management that would allow consumers access to music after they purchased it without giving them the option to copy or illegally distribute it.
After its implementation, SDMI issued a challenge, calling for hackers to attempt to break their encryption scheme. While SDMI claimed that it was unbreakable, it took French hackers an extremely short time to break through it. The group of one Ed Felton then attempted to claim the prize money promised, however the SDMI denied their claim based on a technicality. In response, Felton tried to publish a scientific paper a few months later – it detailed his exploit and essentially rendered SDMI useless. Despite threats of legal action and after having to consult the US Department of Justice, Felton published his work.
SDMI was considered by some professionals in the industry as an attempt to force the tech world to maintain the record industry’s near-monopoly on the distribution of music, which the SDMI denied. Needless to say, the initiative lost all momentum and went on an indefinite hiatus.
Common Uses of SDMI
- SDMI refers both to the forum that was formed in 1998 and to the standard developed and published by said forum.
- Despite their claims of an unbreakable encryption algorithm, French hackers had no trouble breaking the SDMI’s encryption.
- As of the early 2000’s, SDMI has been on permanent, ongoing hiatus.
Common Misuses of SDMI
- SDMI is another file format type similar to MP3.