# OpenMG > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/OpenMG > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/OpenMG.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenMG > Source revision: 1337970108 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Digital rights management system developed by Sony This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "OpenMG" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message) **OpenMG** is a [digital rights management](/source/Digital_rights_management) (DRM) system developed by [Sony](/source/Sony) for managing and protecting digital music data on a personal computer. It was originally designed for audio files in [ATRAC3](/source/ATRAC3) format; the compliant software, e.g. Sony [SonicStage](/source/SonicStage), is usually capable of transcoding [MP3](/source/MP3) and [WAV](/source/WAV) files to OpenMG/ATRAC3. The file extensions OpenMG-encrypted files use are .omg and .oma. Sister technologies OpenMG Light (for mobile devices)[1] and OpenMG X were also created.[2] ## Development OpenMG was created alongside [MagicGate](/source/MagicGate) in an effort to protect digital music copyright. It was released alongside the Memory Stick Walkman and VAIO Music Clip.[3] It is compliant with the [Secure Digital Music Initiative](/source/Secure_Digital_Music_Initiative) (SDMI) version 1.0 industry group specification formed in February 1999. There has been at least one reported case when a security update of [Windows XP](/source/Windows_XP) and [Windows 2000](/source/Windows_2000) broke OpenMG-compliant software. This issue was later resolved.[4] ## Method Audio files encrypted using OpenMG cannot be played on another computer. OpenMG consists of a "check-in" and "check-out" system, whereby a music file can be transferred from a computer to up to three portable devices. It cannot be transferred to a fourth, unless at least one of the other three devices gets checked back in to the computer.[5] ## Compatible software - OpenMG Jukebox - [SonicStage](/source/SonicStage) - MAGIQLIP2 - BeatJam - [Connect Player](/source/Connect_Player) - x-app - VAIO Media The compliant music organization systems work by "checking out" and "checking in" the files to/from portable players, keeping only one copy unlocked in order to hinder proliferation of copies. SonicStage 3.4 includes an option to remove DRM from one's entire media library, allowing unrestricted use. However, this feature is disabled for copies without a license. ## Criticisms of OpenMG The 'checking in' and 'checking out' of files can be cumbersome and risky in comparison with unprotected data. Side effects include user complaints of being locked out of their own original recordings, unable to transfer them to the computer. With some Sony portable audio players it is not possible to directly drag and drop the desired tracks to the device's visible directory. With the combination of OpenMG with [MagicGate](/source/MagicGate), Sony intends to restrict the files to be only moved instead of copied, artificially emulating the restrictions of physical objects. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] However, as of the most recent releases of Sonicstage, files can be "checked out" of the library an unlimited number of times to a portable device, without the need to "check in" any of them. There has been anecdotal evidence that OpenMG modules tend to "choke" reading corrupted MP3 [ID3](/source/ID3) tags.[6] A *[Wall Street Journal](/source/Wall_Street_Journal)* article that reviewed the Sony VAIO Music Clip player in 2000 noted that the OpenMG and MagicGate technologies "treats users like criminals".[7] ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Sony Global - Press Release - "OpenMG Light" - Digital Rights Management and Distribution System"](https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/News/Press_Archive/200103/01-014E/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230826074038/https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/News/Press_Archive/200103/01-014E/) from the original on 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2025-08-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Sony Global - Press Release - Announcing "OpenMG X" - Digital Rights Management and Distribution Technology -Promoting distribution of digital content which respects copyright-"](https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/News/Press_Archive/200208/02-035E/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230826074036/https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/News/Press_Archive/200208/02-035E/) from the original on 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2025-08-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Mobile：今週のモバイルキーワード「OpenMG【おーぷんえむじー】」"](https://www.itmedia.co.jp/mobile/0102/26/keyword_3.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250325093853/https://www.itmedia.co.jp/mobile/0102/26/keyword_3.html) from the original on 2025-03-25. Retrieved 2025-08-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["OpenMG-compliant music software does not work correctly after you apply the MS04-32 Security Update for Windows XP and for Windows 2000"](https://web.archive.org/web/20041024015957/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887811). *support.microsoft.com*. Archived from [the original](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887811) on 24 October 2004. Retrieved 15 May 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["What are some points to note when using OpenMG Jukebox? | Sony AP"](https://www.sony-asia.com/electronics/support/articles/S500015519). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250221100312/https://www.sony-asia.com/electronics/support/articles/S500015519) from the original on 2025-02-21. Retrieved 2025-08-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["RealPlayerDevices"](http://real.lithium.com/real/board/message?board.id=RealPlayerDevices&message.id=130). *RealPlayer customer support forum*. Retrieved 2005-11-05.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** s. Mossberg, Walter (2 March 2000). ["Sony's Digital Music Clip is Cool, but Treats Users Like Criminals"](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB951954704197608367). *Wall Street Journal*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220925082748/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB951954704197608367) from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2025. ## External links - [ATRAC](https://www.sony.net/Products/ATRAC3/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200721172935/https://www.sony.net/Products/ATRAC3/) 2020-07-21 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) v t e Digital rights management software Software CD-Cops Extended Copy Protection list Denuvo LaserLock MediaMax list OpenMG PlayReady SafeDisc SecuROM StarForce Tagès Windows Media DRM Janus Widevine FairPlay Related Defective by Design Software cracking Sony BMG copy protection rootkit scandal --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [OpenMG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenMG) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenMG?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.