Copy-protection bullshit!

[EC]

I have been thinking about this all last night and now all morning.  

It reminded me about how I went into HMV the other day to buy a Bob Dylan dvd, and they said they didn' carry anything by Bob Dylan anymore because he decided to release something only through Starbucks.  Or something like that.  I was like, "You're fucking joking me.  You have nothing, zero in your store by Bob Dylan."  "Nope."

And that just seemed so fucking stupid.  Starbucks and HMV at war over Bob Dylan.

This also seems stupid, but I can't quite figure out who I'm mad at.  I know I'm not mad at the band, because I don't think they have any control over this.  I'm not mad at Apple, I don't think, because I wouldn't want to help Microsoft either by conforming to their programming.  I kind of feel like the record label should've done more research, but I understand that they're trying to make it really hard for people to copy discs.  But it also seems, like it always does, that they got all freaked and panicked, and made this decision that ends up fucking the good ones.

Perhaps it's Microsoft, in the end, that pisses me off.  Maybe the record company should've had a MAC version and a PC version.

The only thing is that it totally sucks if you don't buy this record in order to show the record company how pissed you are.  It sucks because the people who lose are the band, and we love them, and want them to win.

I'm not really finding an easy solution here...    :-/

[doEVILslittle]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to that guy and to whoever posted the link on this site.

hey no problem tdan, glad to help

[marktwain]

On a lighter note.

I'd like to personally thank everyone involved for making the c.d. the perfect length to fit on one side of a 90 minute cassette. ;D

I record it once on each side, and I never half to rewind.
My car's tape player is very happy.

[tdan]

The only thing is that it totally sucks if you don't buy this record in order to show the record company how pissed you are.  It sucks because the people who lose are the band, and we love them, and want them to win.

Not only the band loses, but the indie record stores will lose also.  In the situation mentioned earlier regarding the person who was going to return their copy to the store in which they purchased their CD, the store loses.  

I don't solely support the local guys, but when I can in good conscience, I do.  Ear X-tacy seems to always have good prices on new releases, but I have been screwed buying older discs there and vowed to not fall into that trap ever again.  I have purchased two CDs there before, then came back to the office to check the prices on iTunes only to find that I could have purchased 3 CDs on iTunes for the price I paid at Ear X-tacy.  I cannot justify spending that much extra.  I love the local guys, but not that much.  If I can get a disc at a local shop for the same or a little more as on iTunes I will always support the locals.

[EC]

Yes, good point.  Our good dude independent stores lose as well.  

[Spoon]

Yep.  I'm all riled up too.  License agreement?  Install software?  Are you kidding me?  And all of that legalese in capital letters: "YOUR COMPUTER," etc.  

I just bought the damned thing on the way to school and I'm trying to listen to it on the computers in the library.  If I play it now am I going to be able to play it when I get home?  What am I agreeing to?  Why do I feel so dumb right now?  I just want to listen to the f*cking record!

This is lame.

[rob]

Geez......doesn't anyone listen on a stereo anymore??? No problems playing Z there. Best sound, too.

[rob]

...and do you really blame them for copy-protecting it, especially after the internet leak?...all those leaks have to stop....the less money the artists and labels make, the less good music will be available...it's not a complicated thing to realize.

[Spoon]

You're right.  My school's library should definitely pony up and buy a stereo.  And some beer and snacks and stuff.  Sheesh.  Some hospitality.  

[EC]

...and do you really blame them for copy-protecting it, especially after the internet leak?...all those leaks have to stop....the less money the artists and labels make, the less good music will be available...it's not a complicated thing to realize.

A couple of things about that:

1. The leak was from an early copy, presumably a press copy, and was unmastered
2. As far as listening on your computer, a lot of people have to decide between buying a cd player or a computer.  It's more practical to buy a computer, as it already has the capacity to be a cd player as well.

I think you're absolutley right.  The issue, though, lies in the fact that dues who spread records over the internet are probably savvy enough to figure out how to get it regardless.  Dudes who buy the record and just want to hear it seem to be having problems.  So, the system itself isn't really working...  The principle behind copy-protection is, I think, fine.  And fair.  But the issue is that in reality, it seems to be causing a lot of problems for the honest peoples.

Now, having said that, I had zero problems getting it to play on my computer.  So it was totally cool for me.

[Igottago]

On a lighter note.

I'd like to personally thank everyone involved for making the c.d. the perfect length to fit on one side of a 90 minute cassette. ;D

I record it once on each side, and I never half to rewind.
My car's tape player is very happy.

what's a tape??

anyways, this cd protection irritates the hell out of me as well. And they don't mark them clearly at all, I bought the CD and didn't see anything that resembled a warning or label regarding the CD protection crap. I think this kinda stuff actually hurts the artist more than it helps them. Let's face it, people love their Ipods. People are going to ignore the music because of format problems...unless they are already a fan they won't bother to make a huge effort to get around such issues. People who haven't heard the music yet may just get frustrated and forget the album exists, as my brother, an avid Ipod user, has done to many discs with copy protection issues.

[tdan]

Geez......doesn't anyone listen on a stereo anymore???

No, they don't.  I guess you're the guy who is still trying to figure out how to keep a record player from skipping when sitting on your dashboard?

[cochrock121]

This is my first post and I think the whole protected disc thing sucks.  It just drives me crazy.  I mean MMJ is still so small and all their money is generated from touring.  I don't know why any band would sign with a label these days???

[aMillionDreams]

MMJ signed a good deal with ATO giving them full artist control.  My guess is that this falls into the category of "legal" control, so the record company found a way to ruin it for us despite the band's best efforts to keep them away from the music!

I say we start a petition.  They should know that their are some pissed off peeps out there! >:(

[cochrock121]

Isn't ATO partially owned by Dave Matthews?  It seems so weird, that he, out of all people, would allow for this?  Isn't trading music what got his band started?

[EC]

Instead of a petition right away, what about writing letters and seeing how they deal with it?  My guess is that they weren't trying to piss people off, and the fact that people are having difficulties might be helpful for them in the future...  If you wrote a letter explaining what happened to you, they might be able to fix these problems.

And give you free stuff.  (It's happened to me before...)

[doEVILslittle]

IT'S NOT ATO'S FAULT IT'S THEIR PARENT COMPANY RCA!!!!!! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THIS

[primushead]

I didn't have any problems playing it on my computer either.  :-/

[Steve Marth]

Well...


I sent my copy back to ATO today, along with a letter kindly asking them to send me either a new copy of the CD that doesn't demand software installation, or a check for $12.83 to recover money I paid at the store for it.

I also included the sales receipt to prove that the CD was legally purchased, and a written promise that I won't do anything illegal with any new copy they may send me.



I'm excited to see what happens.

[aMillionDreams]

way to go, maybe they'll pass it on to RCA ;)

Let us know what happens.