If anything happens to your CDs, they can be readily replaced at affordable prices
 

No, really, they can. The RIAA said so.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060215-6190.html

Obviously, the RIAA hasn't seen the condition of some of the DVDs and CD's that I copy...er, um...borrow from the library.

I'm trying to get my head around all of that. I think they actually said that even if I already bought the CD, it's not fair use to rip it and put it on an iPod that I own ... that I have to re-purchase the content for the purpose of placing it on a portable device?

Be thankful you don't have to send Cary Sherman a check for $17.99 each and every time you listen to it.

Yet.

I wonder if any of the current CEO's of Corporate America ever heard the old saying about killing the goose that laid the golden egg...

Actually, it would be fairly simple for the free market to take effect here. Simply have the industry label in large unambiguous lettering 'restricted use' any CD's that they feel cannot be 'backed up'. Then let independent artists label theirs 'fair use' in equally large unambiguous lettering. Or simply have the FTC define the phrase 'fair use' and let companies place it on their products the way they do 'fat free' and 'low calorie'. The market would sort this all out really quickly.

This is similar to what happened with debit cards. Unlike credit cards, debit cards have very few legal protections against fraud. Instead of the government stepping in, banks are now competing with commercials on recovering from fraud.

In essence, yes.... "if you wanted to play it on you MP3 player you should have bought it as a digital file from an online store instead of getting the CD."


Anybody who wants to check out a DRM-free online service, visit www.emusic.com. If your taste runs to the latest mass-produced bubblegum-pop diva or this week's hot boy band, you're out of luck, but if you have more eclectic tastes you might find it interesting.

I recommend emusic.com. Good folks.