Apparently, you don't own your CDs anymore
 

So I guess those wacky guys down at the RIAA are at it again. Now they're suing someone for copying CDs he purchased legally to his home computer. I mean, they always had at least some kind of argument when it came to file-sharing before, but this? Come on. Get a job.

Apparently though, the guy is fighting back, so hooray for not cutting a deal with bullies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...122800693.html

Edit: Not putting this in discussion, because I honestly don't see my argument going too far beyond "god, this is stupid."

I'd say something, but the article sums up the problem too well for me to have any further input. They're grasping at straws, as that's all they have left.

In the next few years, I can see the music industry shifting more to a Single/EP centric system, like the golden age of the 45, with the LPs becoming less common, and more for things like concept albums and rock operas.

I wonder how they found out that he was ripping copies of the CDs onto his computer?

RIAA needs to either evolve from the sue-happy, greedy hydra it has become or die. A worldwide boycott of RIAA would probably kill it, other than what revenue it receives from lawsuits, but pulling off a boycott of that magnitude would be tough...and it would be asking a lot of music lovers everywhere. At the same time, though, if RIAA is willing to go after music lovers who want to carry their favorite, LEGALLY PURCHASED songs on portable media without having to carry around bulky CD cases, no music lover will be safe for long.

What's next? Is RIAA going to sue the creators of Avenue Q for promoting illegal music sharing through the song "Mix Tape?"

I'm thinking that he was caught sharing some files, and they decided to try to get money on every mp3 on his computer. Well, I think with distribution models like iTunes, and also what artists like Radiohead (with In Rainbows) and Saul Williams (with The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust) are doing, it's becoming easier than ever to self-release your music and rely more on word of mouth than radio promotion and the like.

Apparently the RIAA got its hooks into him because he was, in fact, sharing stuff on Kazaa. The subsequent legal history is here, I guess the deal is that in the course of submitting their motion that copying stuff to his shared Kazaa folder = filesharing, they slipped in a passage to the effect that oh BTW, any copying of any CD to an MP3 is also illegal.

Why would Windows Media Player and iTunes have a built in ripping application if the act itself was illegal? This charge seems like it would be an easy one to defeat, the file sharing on the other hand... I'm seeing a quiet settlement.

Either that, or else him turning around and dropping some kind of suit at Microsoft and iTunes along the lines of, "Hey why did you give me the tools to rip the music?"

I think that the real reason that RIAA is losing money now is that fans and artists are both starting to realize that RIAA cares more about the money than they do about the music. At least artists like Radiohead, DMB, BNL, TRAPT, and Peter Gabriel are innovating with the times, rather than relying on the same old models for selling music. I haven't even bought a CD in years because it's easier to just buy the tracks I want online from reputable sellers.

Bout time they started realizing that, it's only been a 7 year crusade against mp3s.

And gosh they're more popular than ever now so I guess the RIAA sure fucked up on that one.

Well, the problem with a lot of artists is that they're locked into these recording contracts, so they really can't get out until the contract runs out. However, more and more you see bands on these indie labels becoming as popular as their RIAA companions. The switch is happening.