MagicGate (MG) is a copy-protection technology introduced by

Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...

in 1999 as part of the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI). It works by encrypting the content on the device and using MagicGate chips in both the storage device and the reader to enforce control over how files are copied. MagicGate encryption was introduced with Sony's first digital audio players, with the related

OpenMG OpenMG is a digital rights management (DRM) system developed by Sony for managing and protecting digital music data on a personal computer. It was originally designed for audio files in ATRAC3 format; the compliant software, e.g. Sony SonicStage, ...

technology being its software counterpart. Since then the encryption has been rolled out to other Sony devices - it is used in the memory cards of the PlayStation 2 and, {{As of, 2004, lc=on, has been introduced into all of Sony's Memory Stick products. Some devices will only accept Memory Sticks which use MagicGate technology. All Memory Stick Duo cards equipped with MagicGate can be identified by a notch located on the rear end of the card.

Support

Few ( USB or PC Card) Memory Stick-compatible card readers support secure MagicGate. Although manufacturers list Memory Stick Pro/Pro Duo (MG) compatibility, where MG means MagicGate, they may not support the security portion of MagicGate. This becomes important when purchasing a card reader/writer for use with

SonicStage SonicStage is a discontinued software product from Sony that is used for managing portable devices when they are plugged into a computer running Microsoft Windows. It comprises a music player and library manager, similar to iTunes, Windows Media Pl ...

and

Sony CONNECT , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...

as even Sony itself does not fully support MagicGate on certain readers. Non-MagicGate memory card reader/writers do not show up in SonicStage, with the notable exception of Sony Ericsson phones. Current Sony devices that support MagicGate DRM as of summer 2007: * Most Memory Stick capable Sony VAIO notebooks and desktops *

PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 200 ...

– The PlayStation Portable in service mode will only boot to Memory Sticks with MagicGate enabled *

PlayStation Vita The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita, or Vita) is a handheld video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, and in North America, Europe, and other international terri ...

- Used for verifying memory cards and PSP Emulation. *

PlayStation 4 The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 in ...

PlayStation 3 The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...

* MSAC-US40 USB Memory Stick Card Reader/Writer. * PlayStation 2 Current Sony Devices that do not support MagicGate DRM as of summer 2007: * All U.S. Sony Ericsson phones – most Sony Ericsson phones should show up in SonicStage for MP3/AAC transfer * VGP-MCA10 PCMCIA Card Reader/Writer – does not sport the MagicGate logo * Sony 17 in 1 Card Reader/Writer MRW62E/S1/181 * Sony

AVCHD AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) is a file-based format for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video. It is H.264 and Dolby AC-3 packaged into the MPEG transport stream, with a set of constraints designed around the ...

camcorders such as HDR-UX5/UX7 Current Sony Devices that do not support MagicGate DRM as of summer 2007, but the support may be possible via future firmware updates: * Mylo Personal Communicator – Mylo's 1GB internal memory can be used with SonicStage and supports OpenMG * Sony Reader portable e-reader PRS-500 & PRS-600 – may show up in SonicStage for MP3/AAC transfer.

State of DRM

In March 2009, Sony Electronics announced they were phasing out the Sony CONNECT service in favor of Windows Media Audio & Windows Media DRM, though they have not officially announced plans to continue a Windows Media DRM music service, either. As of June 2009, the future of MagicGate DRM was unknown. MagicGate slots were still a part of the default Vaio configuration as of May 2010.

References

Digital rights management systems

Support

State of DRM

See also

References