So, I read the article and a few of the comments beneath it, but didn't think too much more about it. Until I got home and my wife told me about the strange behavior of her computer when she tried to play a CD she was given for her birthday - Santana's "All That I Am". I did a little more research and discovered some very unsettling information - playing this CD (and others like it) in a computer CD drive requires the installation of certain "copy protection enabling software". Without going into a long technical explanation, let me explain it to you this way: the software that this Arista CD installs on your computer is the very same stuff that some of the nastiest viruses, trojans and other malware use to gain access to your computer without your knowledge. Arista Records had just conned my wife into installing a root kit on her laptop. Since I'm the one who takes care of our computers, I'm none too happy about that.
I'm not a thief. I'm a musician myself and I strongly support the artists whose music I buy, often buying product directly from the artist when possible to ensure they get maximum return for their work. I have no argument with music industry corporate entities' right to restrict duplication or distribution. (I don't think it's a smart move on their part from a business standpoint - punishing your customer isn't a great way to build loyalty, in my opinion, but it's their right to make foolish business decisions if they wish to do so). What I DO object to is the heavy handed and misleading way in which these are choosing to do business. Arista has a right to try to protect their business interests, but that right should stop well short of installing what amounts to a hacker backdoor in my wife's laptop.
Realistically, what can I do about it? Not much. But I'll do what I can, and if you care about your rights as a music consumer, I strongly suggest you give some thought to doing the same. I've created this page and I intend to add more links and information as I find it. Hopefully my reasonable approach will be helpful to others looking for information, but not interested in the "f**k the RIAA!!" hysterics of the Internet kiddies who think they have a right to steal all the music they can fit on their iPods. I will scrutinize every CD I buy from this day forward and refuse to buy any which are DRM protected. I will contact my government representatives and urge them to protect my rights and apply pressure on the music industry to find a more reasonable method to protect their interests. I will join and support any reasonable organization which opposes DRM, the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act), and the heavyhanded tactics of the RIAA and the MPAA.
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