Copy protection on Coldplay's new CD

[iago]

To summarize:

"This CD can't be burnt onto a CD or hard disc, nor can it be converted to an MP3.  This CD may not play in DVD players, car stereos, portable players, game players, all PCs and Macintosh PCs, in order for you to enjoy a high quality music experience."

The fuller story:

[should non- Redbook compliant "CD"s be stamped with
with a large, visible consumer warning sticker?  - Gary]

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/01/coldplays_new_cd_has.html


Sunday, January 1, 2006
Coldplay's new CD has rules: No MP3s, no DVD players, no car stereos

Coldplay's latest CD X&Y comes with an insert that discloses all the rules
enforced by the DRM they included on the disc. Of course, these rules are
only visible after you've paid for the CD and brought it home, and as the
disc's rules say, "Except for manufacturing problems, we do not accept
product exchange, return or refund," so if you don't like the rules, that's
tough.

What are the other rules? Here are some gems: "This CD can't be burnt onto a
CD or hard disc, nor can it be converted to an MP3" and "This CD may not
play in DVD players, car stereos, portable players, game players, all PCs
and Macintosh PCs." Best of all, the insert explains that this is all "in
order for you to enjoy a high quality music experience." Now, that's
quality.

I wonder how Coldplay feels about their fans getting all these rules set
down for them by the music label? I wonder if most fans who read these rules
will be wise enough to blame corporate, or whether they'll just decide to
dig up a band whose label treats them like customers, not crooks? It's
amazing how the labels always seem to come up with new ways of screwing
artists: if they're not cheating them out of royalties, they're
systematically alienating their fan-base. Link (via Digg)
[...]

see also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copy_Control

[thanks go to JS and CC for spotting this one.]


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[CrAz3D]

Isn't this the type of disc you can just put a piece of scotch/clear tape on?

I read something about the new anti-piracy cd protection being defeated by tape.

[Chavo]

Wow.  I can't believe I'm surprised by this, but I am.  They are 100% shooting themselves in the foot on this one by giving the anti-copy protection activists a HUGE boon.  I wouldn't be surprised to see a lawsuit about this seeing as it makes the product so difficult to use it could be construed as fraud/intentional misleading of customer.

[iago]

People are talking about a lawsuit. 


The funny thing is, the album was on torrent sites 2 months before it was released.  So if you want to be able to listen to their CD on your iPod, you are forced to download it (or use Linux, which can rip it).  Does it make ANY sense to make it difficult to buy CDs to listen to on your iPod, thereby forcing people to download the songs instead?

[Chavo]

The thing that I don't get is why they (record labels) continue to go to such extreme measures to implement copy protection on cd sales when the vast majority of music ripping/pirating is no longer done by ripping to mp3 from a cd.

Unless they really are just doing it to screw over the artists that they have a problem with or want bigger royalties from (which seems like a pretty evil/dumb idea considering the money they put into it).

[Lobo]

I agree that it takes millions of dollars to produce an album, but setting rules so that the customer cannot enjoy his product is a little extreme.

[Mythix]

At least it was coldplay, I can handle not listening to them.. anywhere.

[Hitmen]

To summarize:

"This CD can't be burnt onto a CD or hard disc, nor can it be converted to an MP3.  This CD may not play in DVD players, car stereos, portable players, game players, all PCs and Macintosh PCs, in order for you to enjoy a high quality music experience."

I'm in favor of limiting the proliferation of shitty pop music, so it's all good.

[leet_muffin]

Wow, I really don't like Coldplay, and don't really think their fans have much taste, but I would hate it if I couldn't listen to Pantera, or another of my favorite bands.

[Nate]

Wow you don't like Coldplay.  Wait i don't care and you know what JEEbus hates you.

[iago]

I'm in favor of limiting the proliferation of shitty pop music, so it's all good.

Haha, I knew you'd say something awesome like that :)

But obviously, which band isn't really the issue.

[Sidoh]

Wow you don't like Coldplay.  Wait i don't care and you know what JEEbus hates you.

I don't like Coldplay either.

Do you know how I know you're gay?

How?

You like Coldplay.

Haha, I knew you'd say something awesome like that :)

But obviously, which band isn't really the issue.

Hehe, yeah.  It's annoying that record companies do this kind of stuff.  It totally shatters the band.  Have there been people finding ways around it yet?

[Towelie]

"This CD can't be burnt onto a CD or hard disc, nor can it be converted to an MP3.  This CD may not play in DVD players, car stereos, portable players, game players, all PCs and Macintosh PCs, in order for you to enjoy a high quality music experience."

What CAN you play it on?!

[Ergot]

It can be played on a full-sized? cd player.

[iago]

Hehe, yeah.  It's annoying that record companies do this kind of stuff.  It totally shatters the band.  Have there been people finding ways around it yet?

Yes, rip it from Linux.

It can be played on a full-sized? cd player.

That's probably the next thing that'll go :)