"what do the record companies expect us to do, buy two copies just so we can listen in the car as well?"
Well, as a matter of fact, yes, I believe that's what they expect you to do.
"But you
can't use a similar argument to justify burning a copy of a CD - when would you be in a situation
where you can play a CDR but you can't play a CD? This is why the issue of "unrippable" CDs really
hasn't bothered me at all."
What about making your own mix CDs? I have several CDs of mixed music, for all of which I own the original CD. Also, what about for MP3 players?
"Also... what about cases where bands have themselves voluntarily released MP3s? For example,
R.E.M. released one of the songs from their latest album for free download from their website. Is it
"legal" if this MP3 appears on a file-sharing system?"
By my reading of the article, the ISPs are not being asked to shut down anyone who runs a file sharing program. They are being asked to shut down people for offering specific copyrighted material for others to download.
So, yes, it is legal if a band wants to make its songs available on a file sharing network.
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So, yes, it is legal if a band wants to make its songs available on a file sharing network.