CD players glued shut to stop piracy

[sandor]

what do y'all think about this:

A US record company has issued reviewers with portable CD players that are glued shut to prevent two new albums from being pirated online before their official releases.

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992804

[Chris]

I agree with what was said in the article, this is a sign of desperation.

I can also understand with the record companies trying to copy-protect their digital media, but what of the the legitimate purchaser making a copy to keep for use in his car stereo, or his office?

[Collin]

From the way the record companies approach this issue it looks likr they would require that you purchase two copies if you want one in your car and one at home!! or that you carry them around with you each time you leave home!!!

[odsamuels]

My two cents:

People should get compensated for very hard (and expensive) work. I have however, had legitimate CDs and just had to watch them deteriorate with scratches, etc. towards and unplayable state.

Just food for thought.

[BeachJamJm]

The website wasn't accessible so i couldn't review the article myself. However, my impression is that this desperate measure applies only to the "preview" copy and not necessarily to that which will retail.

I am sure tho that if the 'underground' is interested enough they will get access to the media irrespective of how it is packaged.

On a broader issue: Have any concerns / legal threats been issued to any local ISP regarding transfer of copyrighted material on their networks? If yes, in what ways have the companies acted?

[Chris]

"Music companies thinking of distributing copy-protected CDs to protect their content from piracy will likely raise the ire of consumers while lowering their revenue, a new study warns." http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106368,00.asp

So this article basically confirms our thinking, that we should be able make backup copies of our CDs for use in car, portable players, etc.

BeachJamJm: I haven't heard of legal threats been issued to any local ISP regarding the transfer of copyrighted material on their networks. I have however heard of an ISP being charged for carrying voice over their network. Does this count? :D

[Gillion]

Evolution has a nasty way of showing up in the most inconvenient places. Bussiness must evolve with technology, the problem is that bussiness' are not as creative as the man on the street. Think about it. We as men (big bussiness) plod over ways to make better mouse traps while mother nature, with her more creative approach makes better and smarter mice (small man). So... how do you beat the mouse... you can't. Record companies should learn this, what they have done is forced the "priates" to be EXTRA creative... what does this bring forth, you tell me :)

[Collin]

A simple answer to that would be a better cat and mouse game ;D

It is the same principle all over, not only applicable to record companies.. softwar companies find themselves in the same position (gamers always crack registration and stuff like that, and oh yes! we love to crack Microsoft's software just for the fun of it ;D

It is a never ending cycle and will continue for all eternity....... Amen.

[Skillachi]

Is it that hard to take apart a cd player and take out the cd? besides its just glue...

[Nestersan]

Greed is a hell of a thing..

One of my friends who cusses pirates NIGHT AND DAY, pirated a product recently.

He buys his games online, and this game he wanted was not released in States, and completely unavailable for online purchase, because I am sure they are trying to squeeze the biggest slice of profit from who ever publishes game in US. This in an age where Games/Software have downloadable content, plus game delivery mechanisms like STEAM, or EA's system they use for BF2's add-on packs.

I have wanted to BUY Backup exec for 3 Months, but Symantec bought it, and is doing new distribution deals for Caribean. So software I need and want to pay for is unavailable legitimately ??
Rubbish.. TOO GREEDY.

They want to raise price of I-Tunes songs on a whats hot basis, so new hot singles and albums cost more.

Hot not by public definition, but by record labels definition. So you realise they want the ability to tell you what is hot since for 99% of people, higher cost equals better product.

All this will do is take away the level playing field eg. Artist flipping up for more money, threaten to devalue his music.

I have NO PROBLEMS buying Software/Music/Movies, but Content providers need to realise this is a Global age. When people go a review site and see for arguments sake Jet Li's Fearless, which opened in China LAST YEAR and out on DVD then see US/our side of world just getting it, all because they want to squeeze as much profit as they can from distribution deals. They are ASKING for people to Torrent it.

1: Have Online distro, encrypted, but allow 1-2 "backups". In case you in Mohave desert with no Internet, but have a cd-player and some AA batteries. Allow copies to be made to a limited amount of licensed devices. ie I-Garbage, or whatever Media Player u like.

2: Recognise not everyone is rich, so just like how Showtime restrict website to USA only, have region specific pricing.

3: We all do not have dual currency credit cards, so the same way banks change Pounds into Yen, accept my Keycard and let your bank and mine hash it out.

4: We do not like delay, and short of RPG Games which need time for cut-scene dubbing and translation, we want all content NOW, same time as Europe and China and Japan, not six-months from now.

[hirky]

I want one of these CD players, this idea is not new, I glued my cd player together some months ago so I cud always listen to my favorite disk.