Content/Copy Protection

I really wanted to pick up the Foo Fighters latest album, but decided not to because it has what RCA Records is calling Content/Copy Protection. Then I wanted to buy the Kings of Leon's latest album... same thing.

If you are unfamiliar, the Content/Copy Protection is designed to prevent you from making copies of the CDs you buy. That sounds like a reasonable thing to do, right? But if you dig a little deeper, it is a horribly bad idea. Record company executives have been turning to Content/Copy Protection schemes, otherwise called DRM (for digital rights management), because they are trying to fight off the freeloaders that use the file sharing systems. The executives have essentially been sold a bill of goods and they are too stupid to figure it out.

DRM will do nothing to stop file sharing. Nothing. The CDs will all be turned into MP3s and make it onto the file sharing networks. Here's why: all CDs are transformed from digital information into analog music at some point between the CD and your ear. You can't stop analog data from being copied and turned into MP3s.

So, why do the executives do it? Because they were told it would work. And, as I said before, they are stupid.

But, what does DRM mean for you as a consumer? What would happen if you bought the latest Foo Fighters CD? Well, think for a moment about how you listen to music. Do you have an MP3 player? Do you make mix CDs? Do you listen to music on your computer? Do you have an MP3 server connected to your stereo? Do you want to have a copy of your CD at work and home?

All of the above uses require you to make digital copies of the CD. You put the CD into your computer, rip it onto your drive, copy it to your iPod, etc. It works fine for a normal CD. But just try to do it on a DRM CD. It won't work. You will be in for a world of misery. The DRM will try to prevent you from making any copies.

My suggestion?

1. Don't buy the CDs. They are practically worthless anyway because you can't listen to them when you want on the music devices you want to use.
2. Send letters to the Artist. They want you to have their CD. They are smarter than the record executives and they can see that this hurts their business.
3. Send letters to the Record Company. Tell them how stupid their idea is, how it hurts record sales and ask them to justify it.

Today I sent a letter to Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon and RCA Records. The letter is below. Copy it and save it for your own use. Next time you see a CD you want to buy, but are foiled by DRM, send them the letter. Record executives are not the smartest bunch, but eventually they might be able to draw a correlation between declining sales and all those letters from people saying why they aren't buying CDs anymore.

The letter:

Hello.

I really want to buy the Kings of Leon's latest CD. I have enjoyed their previous albums and listen to them constantly. The latest CD has gotten some great reviews and I'm sure I will love it.

But I refuse to buy CDs that employ content/copy protection. So I won't be buying it.

Why must record companies make it so difficult? Why do you do it? I want this album. I am willing to pay for it. But not if I am going to be ripped off, denied the ability to use it how I choose, and treated as a suspected criminal. It isn't worth it.

I don't use file sharing programs. I don't want a free copy. I want to buy it. Maybe I'll burn it onto my own mix CDs, put it on my iPod, or, if I sell my iPod I might want to put it on another MP3 player. I'd like to rip it to my computer, keep it if I change computers, put it on a media player in my living room. But I know the content/copy protection will make all of that difficult or impossible.

Am I wrong? Shouldn't I be allowed to do those things? If I can't, the CD is worth a LOT less to me and I will never listen to it because I can't hear it when I want to on the devices I choose to use. With content protection, you have made the CD worthless to me.

Any thoughts?

[Insert Your Name Here]