Last month I blogged about the new Coldplay CD and consumer frustrations over copy-protection that limits the ability to listen to the CD on an iPod. I've since heard from several people who have been directly affected and found that retailers even refused to offer a refund when they brought the CD back to the store. If there are other people who have had similar experiences, I'd like to hear from you.
More on Coldplay and Copyright
Tags: c-60Copyright Microsite - Canadian CopyrightCopyright Microsite - Music Industry / Coldplay / copyright
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fair use exception’s
to say private copying is fair use and then make cracking copy protections a crime is hard to understand.
you can do “A” but you have to do “B” to do “A” but you can’t do “B” because “B” is illegal. that make’s “A” as good as UN-offically illegal
Coldplay and Copyright
I almost bought the Coldplay CD from a national CDN retailer … but declined when the sales clerk told me there would be no refunds or exchanges if I had difficulties playing or ripping the CD (for my iPod). He suggested that I should and I quote “buy the album from iTunes, and then I could transfer it to my iPod, listen on my computer and burn a CD.”
I found the clerk’s advice interesting not just because he didn’t try and sway my purchase but because he highlighted the main problem with the copy protection strategy: If consumers can’t listen to their purchased music, when, where and how they want – they will get it elsewhere. For many people this means downloading it via bittorrent or a P2P app.
I eventually purchased the album from a local retailer who has decent return policies (I could exchange the album, but no refund). I did this only after downloading and listening to the album several times. If the album wasn’t worth buying I wouldn’t have bothered.
Ripping etc.
I’ve bought a number of discs lately with the C! logo, like coldplay, the six feet under soundtrack (2), and others.
I especially like the warning on the label about not guaranteeing being able to play this in cars. Thank goodness nobody listens to music in cars or has ipods.
That being said, I was able to rip every CopyControl disc I’ve encountered, so far, without problems, on both my mac and my linux computers. Then I reburn the music onto a blank CD.
I’m in the US where X&Y isn’t copy-protected. Last year I received the Speed of Sound single as a gift. While I usually check the packaging before buying music, I had the shrink wrap off before it occurred to me that the 3-song single could still be protected. Unlike some people, I don’t buy or own copy-protected music, period. After a bit of haggling, I managed to get a $7.41 credit from the store (Borders), which was only $2.50 less than what I paid for the whole album! I documented the conversation at the store in the forum at http://www.coldplaying.com .