Sony and Liquid Audio Integrate Internet Music Delivery Systems

Sony Corporation andLiquid Audio (http://www.liquidaudio.com) announced they have joined their digital music technoloy. This allows the new Sony devices to play Liquid Audio content.

The two companies have made their secure Internet music delivery systems interoperable. Liquid Audio says it will use Sony's OpenMG copyrightprotection technology. It will also aupport Sony's ATRAC3 sound compression format.

The new Liquid System will begin distributing digital downloads in ATRAC3 later this month, said the company.

"Liquid Audio's support of Sony's OpenMG in its leading open musicdelivery system enables customers to access and playback music by using Sony'sportable audio players, including Memory Stick Walkman and VAIO Music Clip,while providing the industry with the security and flexibility it requires,"said Keiji Kimura, vice president, Personal IT Network Company, SonyCorporation. "In addition, we believe the strong support of ATRAC3 by LiquidAudio will provide an environment where both customers and content holders canmake use of the high quality digital music files in this format."

"We're looking at ways to safely sell and provide music online toconsumers, and Liquid Audio is one of the first companies to attempt to seethat artists are compensated for their work," said Jay Samit, senior vicepresident of New Media at EMI Recorded Music.

Sony also made a deal with RealNetworks, whereby its RealJukebox player will support Sony's music protection system and be compatible with Sony portable digital audio products.