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MagicGate (MG) is a
MagicGate (MG) is a copy-protection
Copy protection, also known as content protection, copy prevention and copy restriction, describes measures to enforce copyright by preventing the reproduction of software, films, music, and other media.
Copy protection is most commonly found on ...
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 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 orPC Card
In computing, PC Card is a configuration for computer parallel communication peripheral interface, designed for laptop computers. Originally introduced as PCMCIA, the PC Card standard as well as its successors like CardBus were defined and devel ...
) 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 ...
and Sony CONNECT 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 in service mode will only boot to Memory Sticks with MagicGate enabled
* PlayStation Vita - 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 i ...
* 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 th ...
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.See also
* Memory Stick * OpenMG * Memory Stick PRO *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 ...
* Handycam
Handycam is a Sony brand used to market its camcorder range. It was launched in 1985 as the name of the first Video8 camcorder, replacing Sony's previous line of Betamax-based models, and the name was intended to emphasize the "handy" palm siz ...
* Cyber-shot
References