Am I within my rights?

[scharky]

Today I decided to buy a new CD, it's a first time purchase for this particular band and I really like their music. Here's my qualm, I have an Ipod, and I would like to listen to this band on my ipod, however I have come to realize there is a nasty copy protection on this CD, so much so that all you can do is get the copy protected WMV's off of this CD to play in WMP compatible player. Who the hell has one of those :(.
Anyways, Itunes would not import the WMV's most likely becasue of their copy protection becasue I have converted WMV's before, so here is what I decided to do.
Using Vegas, I set my soundcard to record the stereo audio being played, and now I am recording that completely digially to vegas, where I will then separate the tracks and encode them so that I can listen on my ipod.
Pain in the ass, but at least I can listen to the CD that I paid for while I workout.

What is your opinion on this?
Have they finally gone too far, I mean the average joe would not have the knowledge nor the software to do what I am doing, so what are they supposed to do.
Do you feel I am within my leagal right to listen to this music on my ipod?

[Cheesesailor77]

I dont know "legally" if its ok or not, but I dont it. However I don't see anything wrong with it, so its just up to you whether its worth the "risk" of being arrested or fined. Personally, I'll take the risk :)

[DC]

Yeah, I'd say just go for it for goddsake. You bought the CD and you want to listen to it on your freakin' iPod - a lot of people would just rip it without even buying it. "Fair-Use" may cover you on this.

Use CDex (or something like it) to convert it into WAV files and then into iPod files.

http://gnuwin.epfl.ch/apps/cdex/en/install/cdex_151.exe

[HorseFilms]

I see nothing wrong with this. You paid for it, you want to listen to the damn thing when you're on the go. I wouldn't think a second thought about it, personally.

[SilverWolf]

As far as i'm aware you are in your rights. if you wanted to you could even burn it to another cd. If i'm not mistaken you are able to make one backup of your cd/dvd/game but you can't let other people hold it or use it and if you sell your cd you have to either give it away or destroy it.

[J.R. Hudson]

I'd do it (and have done it) using Acid. I bought it ? Come on.

[KOVAROVA]

IMO - they have gone too far and if you splashed out to buy it you should be able to listen to it on any device you want. the music industry needs to innovate and not spend its time trying to knock out file sharing. it is a lame battle. if they would spend their time creating new exciting ways to deliver the content it would be better for everyone ..

[HorseFilms]

IMO - they have gone too far and if you splashed out to buy it you should be able to listen to it on any device you want. the music industry needs to innovate and not spend its time trying to knock out file sharing. it is a lame battle. if they would spend their time creating new exciting ways to deliver the content it would be better for everyone ..

Great post.:thumbsup:

[Isaac_Brody]

You bought it, you can make a backup of it.

[marlenedegrood]

Once again the recording industry rears it's ugly head. Tell me....what is the difference between playing it on your home stereo for everyone in the house or everyone at the party to listen to...vs. playing it on your personal player? The only difference is that you have to convert to mp3 to listen to it on your iPod. Of course you're within your rights.

BMI has strict guidelines that won't allow you to publically play music without obtaining a license from them.....geez.....and all you want to do is play for yourself.

[HorseFilms]

Yeah, it's not like he's handing out copies on a street corner.

[cinemakinoeye]

Inside the Spyware Scandal (http://technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=16812&ch=biztech) is the cover story in this month's issue of Technology Review and it goes into great detail (stick with it, there's a payoff at the end) just how EVIL DRM copy protection can be and the COST of desparate measures the record industry is willing to go to protect their material AND CAUSING HARM TO INNOCENT LISTENERS ALONG THE WAY. If the record companies and the RIAA spent 1/2 of what they spend on doomed protection technology on figuring out new business models that are in tune with reality, shareholders, musicians, and listeners would all be happier. It's time for a change. JUST SAY NO, do not buy CD disks with embedded DRM protection, and please read the article before you say I'm a radical in this department.
:kali: :badputer:

[marlenedegrood]

Inside the Spyware Scandal (http://technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=16812&ch=biztech) is the cover story in this month's issue of Technology Review and it goes into great detail (stick with it, there's a payoff at the end) just how EVIL DRM copy protection can be and the COST of desparate measures the record industry is willing to go to protect their material AND CAUSING HARM TO INNOCENT LISTENERS ALONG THE WAY. If the record companies and the RIAA spent 1/2 of what they spend on doomed protection technology on figuring out new business model that are in tune with reality, shareholders, musicians, and listeners would all be happier. It's time for a change. JUST SAY NO, do not buy CD disks with embedded DRM protection, and please read the article before you say I'm a radical in this department.
:kali: :badputer:
Ok....I read the article and it really opened my eyes. Seems like there's a lawsuit sitting in there somewhere. Can they really get away with messing with your computer without an explicit warning that potential damage could result to your computers CD player? Evil for sure! NO To DRM protected CDS!!!!!!

[Dahopafilms]

The thing I find astounding is that the music industry has simply placed obstacles in the way of the honest, average purchasers of music to prohibit them from enjoying the music. It has nothing to do with commercial piracy - the true "professional pirates" have the knowledge, technology and ability to pretty much get around any copy-protection and make unlimited dupes. And it's the "pro-pirates" who are responsible for the high volume sidewalk sales of the ripped off music. Just take a walk down the "lanes" in Central in Hong Kong or in the markets of Bangkok. Whatever the industry is doing is NOT deterring the real crooks - just pissing off their real, paying customers.

[scharky]

Exactly, since I was able to put it on my ipod, even though for some reason they didn't want me to, what is to really stop me from putting it all over the P2P networks, besides morals I mean :)
The copy protection makes it so that average users can't listen to the music how they want, there have even been reports of people not being able to play the CD at all on their computer or DVD player, that's just not right.
But for people with a little more knowledge all it takes is a few minutes with the right program to do with it what I want.
Now I do respect the artists and will not steal music or share it illeagally, but this really is just pointless.
I would not have bought the cd if I knew the extent of the problems I would have to go through just to listen to it, and in the future, will not buy albums that have this copy protection.

[Blaine]

and in the future, will not buy albums that have this copy protection.
Are the CDs labeled so you know they have this copy protection?

As far as your rights go, you have the right to copy it to other media as long as you are not sharing it with others. It is very much like the old cassette tape players...anyone remember those...:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

[HorseFilms]

It is very much like the old cassette tape players...anyone remember those...:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

Ca...ssette?:huh:

[scharky]

It does say content protection, but on the back it says that it's MP3 player compatable, which it isn't really, since they are WMV's that you get off the disc. Seriously browsing through this disc, it's no wonder people are having trouble playing it on computers and DVD players it's got hundreds of weird files and hidden files and kinds of crap on it, and there is no actual "audio" tracks on it like a normal CD will have. You actually have to use their player on a PC and MAC in order to play the CD, you can't use whatever player you normally use.
I did get it to finally work on my ipod, now that I recorded the entire disc, exported the individal files, but it sure is a pain in the ass just to listen to the music.

[KingVidiot]

I don't like this any more than the next person, but it sounds like it is MP3 player compatible. The iPod is the only player I know of that can't play WMV files. That being said, I don't like the WMV format for audio or video, but they are being truthful (sans iPod) if it says MP3 player compatible.

What is actually more annoying is that I would like to buy from iTunes or Audible but my Dell player, like many others, isn't "secure" enough to be allowed as a signed device for downloading. They obviously don't trust the users to download unprotected MP3's (or m4a aac files), much like the record companies are doing.

Regarding the CD issue, I think only certain companies have adopted this scheme (especially Sony), since I bought several new CD's last year and had no problem converting them to plain vanilla MP3's. But I see it getting much worse very soon.

And people wonder why WinMX and Limewire are so popular...

[SilverWolf]

I don't like this any more than the next person, but it sounds like it is MP3 player compatible. The iPod is the only player I know of that can't play WMV files. That being said, I don't like the WMV format for audio or video, but they are being truthful (sans iPod) if it says MP3 player compatible.

What is actually more annoying is that I would like to buy from iTunes or Audible but my Dell player, like many others, isn't "secure" enough to be allowed as a signed device for downloading. They obviously don't trust the users to download unprotected MP3's (or m4a aac files), much like the record companies are doing.

Regarding the CD issue, I think only certain companies have adopted this scheme (especially Sony), since I bought several new CD's last year and had no problem converting them to plain vanilla MP3's. But I see it getting much worse very soon.

And people wonder why WinMX and Limewire are so popular...


of course the ipod is the only one that can't play WMV files. WMV are proprietary and I don't think MS is going to approve their files to play on the ipod anytime soon.

[scharky]

Yeah, but it also says the CD is mac compatable, can you use any other MP3 player with the mac? I don't know, I'm asking, not a mac guy, but I would assume that there probably isn't alot of support of wmv players on the mac.

[SilverWolf]

well there is a WMV plugin for quicktime that windows supplies because they stop making WMP on the Mac but I don't know if that plays protected files

[Kirk Gillock]

If you buy a song from iTunes can you burn it to a CD? I assume so. So why can't you buy a CD and transfer it to your iPod?

Here's my thoughts and tell me if I'm completely off: If the iPod is telling you that it can not transfer because it detects copyright protection then its obvious that the file you're transferring is the original, right? It's copyright protected so you "most likely" purchased it through a legal source. Now, you're making copies of the CD tracks, which will not have copyrighted protection, and they will transfer fine. That doesn't make any sense. So you're able to transfer files that are not the original? I would think it would be better if the device detected the copyright protection and allowed those files to be copied, rather than allowing files, with no copyright, to be copied freely. ....If I took an original piece of artwork (with letter of authenticity) to be copied at Kinko's and they told me, "Sorry we can't copy this it's the orginal." I'd say, "I'm the owner. I have proof. COPY IT!" But they say, "Nope!" And then turn around and allow any shmoe with a fake to get it copied! What? Am I on crazy pills?!?!?

[scharky]

That makes sense PK. . .
The thing with I tunes though is, you can normally play protected files, if they are MP3 or AAF files, but it said it didn't recognize the WMV file, most likely becasue it has some very strange encryption on it.
But I gotta ask PK, what happens if you write your own music and then want to put it on an Ipod, that would really suck to have your ipod tell you that since there is no copry protection you can't play the song.

[Kirk Gillock]

Good point. It's a complicated issue. Can't we all just go by the honor system and just promise not to steal anything? :)

[J.R. Hudson]

I may be showing my age; but anyone else remember playing Vinyl's and recording onto Cassette ?

-

I agree with an above post; Joe Consumer is not the pirate the record companies should be worrying about.

[Kirk Gillock]

John - I remember, when I was just a kid, holding a microphone up to a FM stereo speaker and recording songs from the radio and making a mix tape for friends. All the songs were cut-off and you could hear us in the background saying, "Shhhhh! I'm recording." Talking about being a head of our time. That was the first P2P. :)

[J.R. Hudson]

Totally ! I remember recording songs on the radio and always cutting off the song when the DJ tuned in !

[scharky]

Pk I did the exact same thing, mic to speaker. I also had my collection of vynyls, everything from the chipmonks christmas to the Barenstien Bears :)

[KOVAROVA]

i still listen to vinyl and have my ipod connected to the same mixer. :)

[scharky]

I have a couple of tool albums on vynyl as well, and I must say hooked up to a nice system nothing beets it.

[J.R. Hudson]

Something nice about that organic quality (pressed wax).

[GenJerDan]

I agree with an above post; Joe Consumer is not the pirate the record companies should be worrying about.

But Joe Consumer is the only "criminal" they can get.

The real ones can afford to pick up and leave when things get hot, hire a good lawyer, or just don't give a rat's patootie.

[Drew599]

Man, this kind of stuff makes me not want to buy music at all.

[scharky]

I know exactly how you feel Drew

[KingVidiot]

I have a couple of tool albums on vynyl as well, and I must say hooked up to a nice system nothing beets it.

Yep, most audiophiles agree that vinyl is still the best, as long as it is scratch- free and clean. It has better low frequency response than digital which has to artificially boost the low end. Remember the great album art of the old days? Talk about a good canvas size compared to the tiny CD booklets... and don't forget the lyrics on the record sleeve!

Digital audio (sans DRM crap) is very convenient though. Think how easy it is to copy to so many different devices without losing any more quality than from the original compression run. Vinyl is too damn bulky and inconvenient.