CHAPTER 13

Recordable DVD Standards Chapter 13
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not computer) versions. The drive manufacturers didn’t have to include SCMS in the drives for computers
according to the Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA), even though the record companies didn’t
agree with this.
Audio Home Recording Act
What started as an agreement between the recording industry and drive manufacturers in 1989 was
translated into law in the U.S. with the passage of the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992. The AHRA
was passed by Congress to protect artists and recording companies from losing royalties from unauthorized
copying of compact discs, but it was also passed to guarantee the consumers’ right to engage
in home audio recording, eliminating the fear of copyright suits when making copies for private, noncommercial,
personal use.
The AHRA calls for the mandatory inclusion of serial copying technology in devices and media but
applies only to devices or media designed or marketed for the “primary purpose” of making digital
audio recordings. Therefore, standalone home audio CD writers (and the media they use) must
include SCMS, but general-purpose computer devices such as CD-R/RW drives and media don’t.
Additionally, the AHRA has also been found to exclude MP3 players as well, much to the dismay of
the RIAA. Sensing that the AHRA did not provide as much legal protection as the recording industry
desired, a new group called the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) has been formed to develop voluntary,
open standards for digital music.
“For Music Use Only” CD-R/RW Discs
According to the Audio Home Recording Act, consumer CD recordable drives and media sold specifically
for recording music are required to have specific safeguards against copying discs, mainly SCMS.
That means these recorders can make digital copies only from original prerecorded discs. You can
copy a copy, but in that case, the data being recorded goes from digital to analog and back to digital
on the second copy, resulting in a generational loss of quality.
The media for these recorders must be special as well. They work only with special discs labeled “For
Music Use” or “For Consumer” discs. These carry the standard Compact Disk Digital Audio Recordable
logo that most are familiar with, but below that, as part of the logo, is an added line that says “For
Consumer.” These discs feature a special track prerecorded onto the disc, which the consumer music
recorders look for. Built into the price of the AHRA-compliant media is a royalty for the music industry
that this track protects. The media costs about six times what regular CD-R/RW media costs. If you
try to use standard non–AHRA-compliant CD-R/RW discs in these drives, the drive refuses to recognize
the disc. These music devices also refuse to copy CD-ROM or data discs.
Note that this does not apply to the CD-R/RW drive you have installed or attached to your PC. It does
not have to be AHRA compliant, nor does it need to use AHRA-compliant “For Music Use” media,
even if you are copying or recording music discs. Additionally, you can make digital copies of copies—
the SCMS does not apply, either. The bottom line is that you do not have to purchase AHRA-compliant
discs for the CD-R/RW drives in your PC. If you do purchase such discs, despite the “For Music
Use Only” designation, AHRA-compliant discs can be used in your CD-R/RW drives just as regular
CD-R/RW discs and can be used for storing data. The extra information indicating AHRA compliance
is simply ignored.
Recordable DVD Standards
The history of recordable DVD drives dates back to April 1997, when the companies comprising the
DVD Forum announced the finalization of specifications for rewritable DVD, DVD-RAM, and a writeonce
DVD, DVD-R.