Band to Give Away Copy-Protected Songs

In an unusual bid to spur CD sales, the hit British band Oasis is using copy-protected discs to let consumers sample three songs from its forthcoming album.

The band plans to distribute 1.7 million discs free this weekend as part of the Sunday Times newspaper.

Using digital-rights-management technology from IBM Corp., the disc includes three songs that can be played four times each on a computer for a limited time.

One goal is to introduce consumers to copy protection, which can protect artists against online piracy, said Steven McMillan of Spero Communications, the marketer that arranged the promotion.

Jon Healey