Sony BMG, Warner Music invest in mobile music technology

Sony BMG and Warner Music Group today said they have invested in a Chinese mobile music download firm to develop their own wireless music download service to counteract illegal services and rampant piracy in the Chinese and Asia Pacific markets.

The two music giants together with digital media company Molodeo have invested an unspecified amount in Access China Media Solutions, to develop a distribution platform over the wireless network that enforces digital rights management (DRM) and ensures payment.

Piracy in China occurs both from CD burning and distributing digital music on the Internet, which has led the Sony BMG and Warner to the conclusion that the wireless network is inherently more secure for digital music distribution. Access is tasked with developing a platform that utilizes built-in payment systems on carrier billing platforms ensure payment and copyright protection.

The deal is targeted at the Chinese and Asian markets, but the companies’ implied the technology could be used in other regions where privacy is prevalent. In the U.S. most of the major recording companies have deals with the wireless carriers to supply secure content for their mobile music download services.