There is a serial number created for every burned CD, but I haven't seen any information that it is either unique or
traceable to the creating machine. If this turns out to be true, I'd say the RIAA/MPAA are more likely culprits than the government for getting the hardware and software producers to do this. Since they are pushing for legislation to add all sorts of DRM junk to our systems, the industry might be trying to work out a 'better deal' with them so they will drop efforts to make the more expensive and difficult enforcement into law.