Digital Rights Management on CD's This Christmas?

McDrewbie asks: "Has anyone discovered that the new CD's found under the tree or in their stocking don't play on their brand new CD player? My father got a Brookstone Wafer-thin CD system and several new CD's. Most play fine, however several ones from Sony (with CDextra software on them) and from Columbia, either don't play or play with some crackling and popping, yet play fine on our older CD player. Did these companies decide to quietly unleash DRM on the public this holiday season? Or is this just a problem with the new player (separate from it not being DRM capable)? What are other Slashdot readers experiencing today?"

Comments

DRM for a present

[Speedy8]

I think that DRM for a present is worse then coal.

Re:DRM for a present

[gooberguy]

Yes, you are right. I got a lump of coal for christmas and I can use it to heat my house. I bet those who got DRM are freezing to death. Poor bastards. Too bad they didn't get coal for christmas.

Re:DRM for a present

[Anonvmous Coward]

"I gave my sister coal for christmas as a joke."

Did you tell her the coal will turn into diamond? Are you engaged now? Heh.

(it's a joke, laugh.)

Re:DRM for a present

[CommieOverlord]

Well, you could burn the CDs. Plastic is just oil after all.

Although, the various chemicals would probably kill you if you burned too many.

Re:DRM for a present

[Slashdotess]

The RIAA execs who gave the DRM didn't need any coal, their coldbloodedness takes care of those problems.

Re:DRM for a present

[Dachannien]

Yes, but at least now they can keep their coffee tables free of nasty beverage container damage.

Personally...

[NanoGator]

"Or is this just a problem with the new player (separate from it not being DRM capable)? " .. I'd recommend getting a broadband connection and an iPod. That'll solve all your problems with defective media(intentionally or otherwise).

Re:DRM sucks...

[SweetAndSourJesus]

Wow, that's so insightful!

I've never read those sentiments anywhere before. I find your completely original outlook on these matters interesting, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Keep those stunningly fresh and new ideas coming!

Re:Let's review

[B1FF]

X-P3CT 2 H34R FR0M MY L4WY3R R3G4RD1N6 Y0UR TR4D3M4RK 1NFR1NG3M3NT!!!!!!!!!1

This was actually on national UK BBC TV

[Rogerborg]

Yes, right up there. "Many CD's bought this Christmas will come with little stickers that say they contain copy protection technology designed to defeat music pirates". And so on. Evil music pirates, starving artists, copy protection rather than rights removal. No hint that it's snake oil, no suggestion that all it does it piss people off and actively drive them to P2P. A rather ambiguous assertion at the end that "But some people who have got used to getting music for free might not buy it at all." What the hell that's meant to signify, I don't know, other than that the BBC employs way too many inbred RADA rejects in their features department.

Wanna end DRM?

[1g$man]

The way to end DRM is simple: find someone more powerful than the RIAA.

And the only one more powerful than the RIAA in this country... is Wal-Mart.

Get a few thousand geeks to buy copy protected CDs, and then demand a return at the same time because they are defective. If you get Wal-Mart annoyed enough, they'll throw their weight around and make changes.

Ever wonder why many DVDs at Wal-Mart are fullscreen instead of widescreen? Because enough rednecks returned their DVDs and whined "'cos they didn't fill up mah dam screen!"

Re:Also post them to the complete list of corrupt

[Reality Master 101]

Everything2 has the best comments on the matter that I've come across:

Someone quoting Everything2 as authoritative is the best evidence of the apocalypse that I've come across.

I've been DRM'd

[TheScogg]

Damnit. Popped in my new John Cage album today. Low and behold...4 minutes and 33 seconds of pure silence.