Burning - Is it a crime?

More news broke today on the copy protected cd issue. I'm glad the arguments have re-emerged, as the issues surrounding burning back up copies of legitimately purchased cds has been overlooked in the rush to make sure 'illegal' copying is stamped out. It has been acceptable practise to make cassette copies of albums for years, even though initially the reaction to cassette copying was just as hysterical. The quality of the recording may have improved, but really the issue has not. Bootleg albums of artists have been available on the streets of every major city in the world in cassette form for twenty odd years, and yet no one has seriously blamed them for the demise of the music business. Now that every Tom, Dick and Harriette has purchased their own cd burner and Nero software, we all have the potential to become evil bootleggers, intent on bringing down the megagods of Hollywood. Ha bloody ha. Only it would be funny, if the RIAA and other similar bodies were not hellbent on convincing us that any playing of any cd on any system other than a bog standard cd player is a CRIME. And to attempt to copy a cd we just bought is a hanging offence. I for one am sick and tired of the RIAA's presumptive attitude that it can tell the public how and where to play their music. It assumes that music and the purchase of it is somehow necessary to everyday life, BUT IT IS NOT. Older people are mighty cheesed off with the crappy release schedules, and younger people in the main can't be bothered anymore, when games and DVDs offer a lot more for your money.......I advocate a total boycott of legitamate music purchasing, and the use of soulseek or other p2p software, which at the present time is not actually illegal to use. Screw the business, and don't worry about the artists, because they are'nt getting paid anyway.

Technology - Reuters

Watchdog Sues Music Labels Over Copy-Protected CDs
56 minutes ago Add Technology - Reuters to My Yahoo!

By Bernhard Warner, European Internet Correspondent

LONDON (Reuters) - A European consumer watchdog body is suing the world's largest music companies for selling copy-protected compact discs that won't play on car stereos and computers, the Belgium-based organization said on Monday.

The group, known in Dutch as Test-Aankoop and in French as Test-Achats, said it has received more than 200 complaints from consumers who objected to a technology that prevents consumers from making a back-up version on a blank disc and limits playback on certain devices.

Industry observers believe Test-Aankoop's suit is the biggest European legal challenge yet to the music industry's controversial campaign to release copy-protected discs, to minimize the impact that digital piracy is having on sales.

Test-Aankoop cited more than a dozen top-selling releases including Shakira's "Laundry Service" and Radiohead's "Hail to the Thief" that could not be played on multiple devices.

EMI, Universal Music, Sony Music and BMG have been named in the suit, which is expected to be heard this week in a Belgium court.

Warner Music is the only one of the five major music labels not named.

The group said it wants the labels to end the practice of issuing protected discs and to reimburse customers.

"We are trying to establish legal precedent in this matter. Then we expect other consumer organizations will follow," said Mechels Ivo, a spokesman for the group.

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