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NSync Copy Protected CD

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the and-close-with-a-matrix dept.

admiral2001 writes "This article from NewScientist.com details the most mass market venture into copy protected CDs. Namely, NSync's new CD will be released in a least 3 different versions (with different copy protection techniques). Also, one of the types has (small) labelling saying that the CD cannot be played on computers."

4 of 577 comments (clear)

  1. Hm.. by Xerithane · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Well, the obvious result is to flag this as a big joke. We all know no one really wants to listen to them around here.


    The thing is, this is probably just a sample. The thing to look out for is all the 14 year old girls who never play their CDs in their computers but the CD player their parents bought them for their birthday.


    It'll look like a tremendous success. "Oh look! No one cares that this CD came out unsupported on computers, lets mass market!".


    Next, you'll have your favorite RIAA-signed musician being forced into the same distribution plan..


    Now, go talk to your little sister about how she's going to have to go with out her poppy boy band shit for a while.

    --
    Dacels Jewelers can't be trusted.
  2. What should be done... by cmowire · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Quick.. Everybody steal a page from Scientology!

    Everybody buy a copy of the CD. And then return it a few days later, complaining that it doesn't work on your computer or CD player. Go to another store, rinse, repeat.

    If enough people did this a few times, all of the sudden, the return rate would be abnormally high on the CD. All of the sudden, the record industry would see this as troublesome and reconsider copy protected CDs.

    --
    Gentoo Sucks
  3. Oh, and another point... by M_Talon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    At the risk of being redundant, someone needs to mod up one of the mentions about the UK version not having copy protection at all. How in the blue blazes is that supposed to prove anything at all? Here's the scenario:

    I live in US, and I buy the CD. *shudder...just remember it's hypothetical* I try to rip it, I fail. I go to the p2p and download the entire CD. I then promptly burn that and distribute to all my friends who want the CD to play on their computers. I also distribute the mp3's to those who want them for their MP3 players.

    This experiment will only prove how far people will go to circumvent copy protection, not how well the protection works. In a worst case scenario, the artists *shudder again* lose money because people quit buying the copy protected CDs and instead get unprotected copies from their friends.

    Once again, RIAA, wrong answer. To quote Anne Robinson, you are the weakest link, goodbye.

    --
    Electronic Frontier Foundation for online civil rights information
  4. All you need to do by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 5, Interesting
    is raise enough hell, and they'll take it back. What you do is play stupid. Buy a CD you KNOW to be copy protected, but doesn't have the label. Open it, try to play it in your computer. When it doesn't work take it back and say it's defective. Likely they'll just give you another one. Ok, fine, do the same thing. When it doesn't work bring it back, but this time be in a bad mood about it. If they give you another one, do the same thing but when you bring it back DEMAND to get your money back. If they won't give it to you, demand to speak to the manager. Raise a big fuss.

    Now I know that all this may fail HOWEVER as a failsafe, just make sure you buy the CD using a credit card (not check card). If they refuse to give you your money back, threaten to have the bank stop the charges. That'll usually convince them to fold. If it doesn't, make good on the threat. Leave the CD in the store and walk out. Then, when you get home, call the bank that issued the credit card and ask what you need to do to block a charge. You'll probably need to write a letter explaining the charge you want blocked, and maybe attach a copy of the reciept (so make sure you have it). When you do what they bank wants, they'll stop the charge and bill the merchant. You won't be charged anything.

    Believe me, it won't take a whole lot of this to put a stop to this copy protection. The mamangers of the specific stores will get all pissed off about this and raise a stink to the higher ups. It won't take too long before the root of the problem is traced back to this batch of CDs, and the recording company in question gets yelled at.