I’m writing to let you know about Universal Music Group’s (UMG) new copyprotection scheme for compact discs.
UMG has chosen to take the low road in the fight against music piracy byinstituting a troublesome, technically immature copy-protection scheme onselect UMG compact discs.
The problem with UMG’s approach is that it disallows the ‘fair use’ of UMG’scopyrighted work. Because the CDs can’t be copied or backed up to a computerhard disk, people who purchase UMG compact discs can’t make a copy of themusic they’ve paid for – they must lug around the CD everywhere they goinstead of making a legal copy of the music for easy portability. Peoplewith notebook computers or .mp3 players won’t be able to take their musicalong in a more portable form – ever.
I’m writing to let you know about Universal Music Group’s (UMG) new copyprotection scheme for compact discs.
UMG has chosen to take the low road in the fight against music piracy byinstituting a troublesome, technically immature copy-protection scheme onselect UMG compact discs.
The problem with UMG’s approach is that it disallows the ‘fair use’ of UMG’scopyrighted work. Because the CDs can’t be copied or backed up to a computerhard disk, people who purchase UMG compact discs can’t make a copy of themusic they’ve paid for – they must lug around the CD everywhere they goinstead of making a legal copy of the music for easy portability. Peoplewith notebook computers or .mp3 players won’t be able to take their musicalong in a more portable form – ever.
This draconian approach to enforcing UMG’s rights treats their customersworse than criminals – under UMG’s system, you’re guilty of music piracybefore you open the shrink wrap on the CD!
Plus, their technology is so poorly thought out, you can’t even use thecopy-protected CDs on older CD players or even on some kinds of personalcomputers – if your stereo is your computer, you’re outta luck! UMG saysthey’re working on ways to ‘get around’ these technical hurdles. I just wantto listen to the music I bought – not corporate excuses.
Surely, other record companies will follow in UMG’s footsteps unless themusic buying public sends an unmistakable message to UMG.
- Do you want to have to call technical support when your CD won’t play?
- Do you want to listen to music that’s been compressed (inevitably destroying some subtlety in the music) by UMG to an “acceptable” level?
- Do you want to be able to make “fair use” copies of the music you’ve paid for in order to listen to music on the road?
- Do you want to be treated like a criminal by a huge corporation that sells more CDs each year, despite the advent of .mp3? I’m not buying their “rampant piracy” bull!
Send UMG an e-mail and let them know that you won’t be buying any of theirtitles on CD, DVD, or videotape until they treat customers with respect, andnot as crooks.
UMG’s “Technical Support” Web site.
Feedback to UMG can be directed to this e-mail address.