Screwed by the music industry?

[BarePaw]

I recently purchased a LEGAL copy of Velvet Revolver's CD "Contraband". The security features the record company used make it so that the only way to rip the tracks to the computer is through their program that downloads a license with them. Then the tracks are in a format that can not be transfered directly to the PPC through Activesync. Their FAQ website says it will work if you use the sync feature in a media program. I tried Windows Media (if anything would work, you'd think it would). It gave me an error message that said there wasn't enough room on the PPC (250MB available space isn't enough?). Has anyone been able to get the tracks to their PPC? I should sue the RIAA. :devilboy:

[Paragon]

I think your problem is that your Ipaq isn't using WMP10 and therefore isn't handling the DRM properly.

Please don't hurt me I'm just a lowly messanger. ;)

Dave

[BarePaw]

I think your problem is that your Ipaq isn't using WMP10 and therefore isn't handling the DRM properly.
Dave

You're right, the ipaq has WMP9, and the computer has 10. Unfortunately, WMP 10 Mobile isn't available for download, just with new devices.

[surur]

Return the CD, and let them know exactly why. Its the only LEGAL thing to do, and it will do the most to stop this practise in the first place.

Surur

[Robb Bates]

I think I've heard of this "security" feature. Look around on the internet a bit. I think bypassing it is as simple as using a black magic marker on a certain spot on the CD. Like the outer edge or the center hub. Don't quote me on any of this.

Robb

[Sven Johannsen]

I realize it is an expense, but I would likely snap the CD into several pieces and mail some back to the record company and some back to the artist, with an explanation why. Taking it back to the store may not even be possible, and certainly won't result in the studio hearing about it. I thought there was supposed to be some indication on the CD box that indicated it had some sort of copy protection.

[Hrun]

What format is the cd copy in?

Would it be possible to rip it to your computer, burnit onto a cdr and then re rip it to mp3?

Sorry to ask so many questions with no answers

Giles

[Paragon]

Would it be possible to rip it to your computer, burnit onto a cdr and then re rip it to mp3?



I've heard that actually works sometimes.

[Hrun]

Would it be possible to rip it to your computer, burnit onto a cdr and then re rip it to mp3?



I've heard that actually works sometimes.

Where it works for sure is with iTunes downloaded stuff.

HTH Giles

[surur]

Look here:

http://weblogs.asp.net/christoc/archive/2004/06/08/151147.aspx

After a little googling I disabled the autoplay feature on my PC. Next I found this article by the “student” who figured out how to defeat this protection software.

Start with a Windows 2000/XP system with empty CD drives.

Click the Start button and select Control Panel from the Start Menu.
Double-click on the System control panel icon.
Select the Hardware tab and click the Device Manager button.
Configure Device Manager by clicking "Show hidden devices" and "Devices by connection," both from the View menu.
Insert the Anthony Hamilton CD into the computer and allow the SunnComm software to start. If MediaMax has never been started before on the same computer, the SbcpHid driver should appear on the list for the first time. However, on some systems Windows needs to be rebooted before the driver becomes visible.
At this point you can attempt to copy tracks from the CD with applications like MusicMatch Jukebox or Windows Media Player. Copies made while the driver is active will sound badly garbled, as in this 9-second clip [10].

Next, follow these additional steps to disable MediaMax:

Select the SbcpHid driver from the Device Manager list and click "Properties" from the Action Menu.
Click the Driver tab and click the Stop button to disable the driver.
Set the Startup Type to "Disabled" using the dropdown list.

With the driver stopped, you can verify that the same applications copy every track successfully. Setting the Startup Type to disabled prevents MediaMax from restarting when the computer is rebooted. It will remain deactivated until LaunchCD.exe is allowed to run again.


But actually returning the CD WILL hurt the company even more. They dont lose anything when some-one circumvents their DRM, but when you return the CD they have to get their money back, have to restock the shelves, employ some-one to process your return and lose some money. This unhappiness will percolate up the chain when Bestbuy lose $5 million due to returned CD's.

Because its easy to circumvent the DRM this stupid drm does not reduce the availability of the songs on p2p, so it does not increase sales at bestbuy. However a returned cd does hurt them. If we can get bestbuy and walmart etc to say DRM is bad for their business the record companies will stop using it. Otherwise they will just continue to make life difficult to their honest customers.

Surur

[Paragon]

If we can get bestbuy and walmart etc to say DRM is bad for their business the record companies will stop using it. Otherwise they will just continue to make life difficult to their honest customers.

Surur

I think you are *almost* right Surur. Personally I don't think DRM is bad. Its just that most DRM methods are implemented badly. If we have the technology to squeeze 40gb of music on to an iPod, we must surely be able to figure out a *fair* method of DRM that allows an individual to easily copy his own music for his own use, yet limit its use in p2p sharing with millions of people.

I'm sure that something could be developed where everytime you copied something a little app fired up and asked you to enter your Visa number or some other big brother, government issued personal tracking number we all seem to have these days. This would make it very easy and painless to copy our own music. And if we still wish to do p2p sharing, and have no problem sharing that personal number with millions of people worldwide....feel free! ;) It seems to be working quite well for eReader a.k.a. Palm Reader and Peanut Press.

Dave

[BarePaw]

After way too much time spent screwing around without circumventing their security successfully, I returned the CD. I told them it didn't work, must be defective. I like the music, but not enough to pay that kind of money to only be able to play it in my CD player. I hope it sends some kind of message, but I doubt it will. The record companies have more money than God, and I'm just a lowly college student.

[surur]

Good on you! All these DRM releases are still in the experimental stage. If they normally have a 2% return rate, and its now 10% they will certainly be very interested.

Its like voting. Tell your friends what you did, and they may either
1) not buy the CD or
2) buy it and return it. (best)

Both will send a message to the record label's bottom line, which is the only thing they listen to.

Surur

[MegaManXcalibur]

That was the right thing to do. The product didn't work as it was marketed to and therefore was defective. If more people did this then record companies wouldn't be so inclinded to put this copy protection (which will be circumvented by somebody within a few days of release) on their CDs, which only ends up irking off the legitimate users.

[portnoy]

Return the CD, and let them know exactly why. Its the only LEGAL thing to do, and it will do the most to stop this practise in the first place.

Surur

I did return a cd one time to Best Buy. They did not want to take it back and refered to some kind of "law" that prevented them from taking back opened cds. I told them that the disk was not usable to me and that I considered it to be fraudulently sold. Eventually the store manager relented and took back the disk. I have never bought another disk and quite possibly never will. Pity that tracks downloaded for free do not cause this problem.