snerk.

[owsf2000]

Those wacky record labels try to pull some ever increasing demands on your CDs.

I bought the latest Stratovarius CD today, which I did even tho I normally would have waited to verify if it's RIAA or not. (it is sadly.) It was only 15 dollars so I doubt they can sue many dead people with that. But anyway, here's what's written on the back of the case.

"Unauthorized copying, replication, hiring, lending, public performance or broadcast prohibited."

WTF? Exactly what gives them the right to tell me I can't lend out my legally purchased CDs? I'd suspect they'd get laughed out of any court they tried to bring this charge up in, assuming they haven't paid off the judge. That's how stupid it is.

I don't even know how to apply the "hiring" restriction.

Anyhow, I now recognize the record label as a RIAA affiliated company so I won't be buying any more CDs made by them. Hell, even if they weren't affiliated with them I'd probably boycott the company just over the heavyhanded attempt at diminishing the value of the CD. I'm actually surprised they didn't tack on unauthorized reselling as well for good measure.

Stratovarius is good, but they aren't worth breaking my boycott over in the future. The only reason I went ahead with it this time is because I wanted to see how the group did after the break with their original guitarist/songwriter person. (Lots of drama involved there.)

No, I don't feel like I'll actually be giving anything up. I have way too much legally downloaded and/or bought music to miss Stratovarius in the long run.

Comments

[spate.livejournal.com]

Hey, at least they didn't disallow you from selling it. Just make sure you get an IOU if someone wants to borrow it from ya. :P

[owsf2000.livejournal.com]

I reckon the only reason they didn't add that is because it's suppose to be a right protected (in the US at least, although I'm sure it's similar in canada) by the right of first sale. After they sold it to you, you're free to sell or do whatever the hell you want with what you bought so long as you don't make new copies. (making mp3s from your CDs is a fair use/dealing exception for personal use btw.)

That doesn't stop them from trying to make it harder and harder to sell your CDs however. They've already tried pushing some pretty heavyhanded restrictions on selling CDs in Florida that essentially made it harder to resell a CD than it was to resell a gun. (Some of the requirements included mandatory fingerprinting.) I don't know if that shit actually got passed in Florida or not, as I haven't heard more of it since it was slashdotted prior to being passed. But it gives you an idea of how far these bastards intend to push the envelope.

This is also why I'm very much against the idea of compromising with them over issues. Every time a compromise is made, they get the better end of the stick, then they immediately resume lobbying to remove what small token issue you might have gained.

Feh. This is why I've been very pro creative commons lately.