RIAA Says Ripping CDs to Your iPod is NOT Fair Use

[Buliwyf]

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004409.php

[PraiseA||ah]

Hopefully the judge sees through the obvious bullshit being slung around there.

[Padre]

Heh - why not? What's the big deal?

Unless you're slightly tech savvy you can't pull the songs back off the iPod. I tried to walk someone through the process over the phone and it was a nightmare. She has zero knowledge about computers beyond e-mail and web browser usage - as I imagine most iPod users are. Eventually I threw her links to some third party software to do it with little effort.

As it stands you can't do it with what is given to you from Apple to communicate with the device.

[cavalierlwt]

I wonder if anyone who works for the RIAA actually admits it in public? Seems to me just saying it would lead to a mob just flat out kicking the guys ass all over town. Oh well, who cares. I have my CDs, I can rip them all I want. If they ever want to do something about it, they better bring a gun.

[Ldsmith104]

soon you will only be aloud to watch a DVD on a TV you purchased from the Movie studio, and if you ever buy a new TV, well you'll just have to throw out you collection and buy them all over again

[cavalierlwt]

What's funny is they have never accepted the concept of ripping DVDs to be legal, in fact last year they even took their last shot at the kid who cracked the encryption --he's ok, thankfully our legal system doesn't have any authority in foreign countries. Meanwhile we have a whole industry that is centered around ripping your DVDs, ie Media Centers. Microsoft has made an OS for it, they've developed standards for it, everything, and one the main purposes of Media Centers is you rip your DVDs to them and then use the Media Center as a Video-On-Demand system. The people who make CD's are screwed. Their whole way of making a living is simply becoming outmoded. They should put their money and effort toward the future, find some other way to make a living. I guess it's tough being a dinosaur and realizing that one of your legs is stuck in the tarpit.

[CodeRed68]

They are trying to make a last gasp effort at saving thier dying media format and thier wallets.
Screw them. I paid my money for the product (CD) and I will use that product as I wish.

[-HaVoC-]

Corporations currently in the US have more laws protecting them than the citizens do. For the love of Christ Microsoft has you call them to reactivate your copy of XP if you have to install it or change it's configuration more than twice(if I remember right). It's sickening. I say we unplug everything and fk em.

[Cleatus703]

And there are bands who are fighting to get out from under the thumb of the record companies. Unless you're a platinum-selling act, there's a decent chance you don't make money on a CD until you hit 300-400,000 in sales because of the way the costs are structured. You can have a relatively strong fan base and not make the kind of sales that get you air play or promotion budgets, which, ultimately keeps sales down. Plus, there's a limited window with a CD release to take advantage of the promotional possibilities. Bands make the majority of their money through tours and merchandise sales, which they typically get 100% of.

So what's a band to do? Well, if you're my favorite band, you record tunes in your own recording studio, release them periodically through iTunes at no cost for the songs, and give the music away. Then you tour heavily. So far, the theory seems to be working, as they've had a string of sold out shows on their latest tour of small- to medium-sized venues in the U.S.

Intrigued? Check out http://www.bigheadtodd.com or search iTunes for Big Head Todd under Podcasts and check out the music.

The RIAA can take this position in court or in public...it will be the straw that breaks the camel's back, IMO. Folks who wouldn't have thought about sharing music previously won't think twice about it now. If copying a CD to their iPod is illegal, then why not share it? In for a penny, in for a pound...

[cavalierlwt]

That's the future right there: give the songs away and make the money on touring. It's effecient as hell.

[TChicken]

This story was on slashdot today too, check out this paragraph from the riaa website:

If you choose to take your own CDs and make copies for yourself on your computer or portable music player, that's great. It's your music and we want you to enjoy it at home, at work, in the car and on the jogging trail.

[Conscious*]

It's completely ridiculous, but I don't really care. They could never prove that you put songs on your Ipod from the CD anyway.