Ok, so copying music is bad, illegal in fact. A woman was just ordered to $220,000 for sharing 24 songs online (yes that's a little over $9,000 a song). In an article today (thanks Kim Komando), I'm finding out that I may be able to be sued as well. Not because of illegal music (which I will neither confirm or deny) but because I have ripped CD's to my computer. Yes, that's right, ripping CD's may be considered illegal, at least if the RIAA lawyers have their way. Is it just me or is this going to far? I mean come on $10,000 a song for sharing it? Saying that I can't convert my files from the CD into something that will go on my iPod. Let's follow this logic just briefly shall we.
I am no longer able to rip CD's. I get a CD from someone as a gift. I now have to return that CD, go to the iTunes music store and download it, oh and pay for it myself. What if I return it to the store and all I get is store credit? Now I'm out the 12-15 bucks because I'm no longer able to rip CD's. I agree that the RIAA has the right to enforce it's rules, but come on! I mean for years I've been told that copying music from one format to another (CD to .mp3 or .aac or .wav or whatever) is completely and totally fine. Now the RIAA says it's not, do they want to sell any CD's anymore? I mean isn't there still something about getting a CD and putting in your CD player to play it and then putting it in your computer to rip it? Maybe it's just me. You can read the article here. You can find out more about Kim Komando here. Thank you for reading.
I hear ya. Most of us in the whole 'conspiracy and doomsayers anonymous' crew saw this coming and have been warning for quite some time.
ReplyDeleteDRM imbedding, privacy invasions, and corporate collusion are merging to form the wonderful new product known as Windows Vista - the effective brainchild of the RIAA and MPAA. When combined with the soft-money might of the telecom industry American fascism is well and good.
The positive side of all this is that many people won't put up with it. Many people are getting angry. Angry Americans are far more dangerous than greedy corporations and/or corrupt governments. The only long-term effect of the actions of the RIAA is to dig their own graves.
While I don't agree with everything you say Kristin you make a good point in saying that the public will fight back. There are some positives out there with all the collaboration but you're right an oligopoly is still a bad thing.
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