Don’t Mess with Mathematical, Musical Millionaires
Hackers were stealing music from the web site of the Museum of Making Music. They didn't realize that founder Hank Risan is a math and computer wizard as well as a wealthy benefactor and collector.

According to a June 8, 2003 article in the Los Angeles Times, Risan made millions in the financial markets during the 1970s and 1980s. A lifelong musician, Risan is also a math prodigy who studied topology, evolutionary biology, computing and economics before earning his fortunes trading securities (using his training to detect and capitalize on market patterns). He launched his virtual Museum of Musical Instruments to share his sizeable collection of unique and valuable instruments (mostly guitars) with others.

After debuting his on-line museum in 2000, he arranged to add streaming music to the site. He was assured by the company that implemented it that its jukebox technology was secure -- streaming and scrambling meant that visitors couldn't walk away with digital copies of the music.

So Risan was surprised and dismayed to get a call from the RIAA, the music industry association that is leading the fight against music piracy. They told him that visitors could indeed copy the songs from his jukebox -- and were taking other people's intellectual property.

In fighting back against the pirates, Risan has added yet another label to his impressive and varied dossier -- software peddler. He assembled a development team, cooked up a new, secure technology, and launched Music Public Broadcasting as a way for record companies, movie studios, and of course his museum to securely distributed copyrighted materials.

"I was shocked at how easy it was to strip [electronic locks] off of copyrighted materials," Risan told the LA Times. "That, to me, [says] Aha! I have a new challenge." Risan drew on his knowledge of topology and network theory to craft a new approach to the piracy problem.

Some piracy experts are skeptical, saying that anything that can be played on a computer can be recorded, but with so much on the line, everyone is waiting hopefully for the July, 2003 rollout of Risan's new service. And the pirates who piqued Risan may find that his response will scuttle their hijacking efforts not only at his museum, but all across the web.

Read the LA Times story [no fee, but one-time registration is required]

Learn about Risan's new venture, Music Public Broadcasting

Visit The Museum of Musical Instruments