Copy protection is one thing, installing something behind your back is another thing but when that little bit of software can render a computer virtually useless it is a big deal, I certainly wouldn't want to have to go through the whole pain of having to re-install my machine because of some company and their little bit of software that installed behind my back all in the aid of protecting their already overinflated profits. As it is often said, it's us law abiding ones that often have to pay the price, the speeding ticking comparison is chalk and cheese, that is something when someone has done something wrong, even the honest get victimised in this case. Sean On 11/11/05, Jon Kamm <kammagic@comcast.net> wrote:

Well, OK no more OS comments. But it seems like the only way to get someone to talk on this list.

DRM issue: Sounds like the complaint when people get a speeding ticket and complain that the cop was behind the billboard and thats not fair. Ahh....."what was the speed limit?" ...."55" ......"and how fast were you going?" ......."70" ........."Sounds fair to me!"

We all know that the copying, sharing thing is not legal and everyone has done it in one form or another. Wether it be downloading off file sharing software P2P or torrents or copying a CD you bought and giving it to a friend or just buying a used CD off eBay can be looked at as stealing because none of that money gets back to the producers or artists or record companies. But that is not the issue here is it? I think people are just upset that Sony and others are putting programs on our computers without our consent. It has to be a very difficult task for the music producers to come up with some way of controlling their music and make everyone happy. This recent Sony issue will probably fade away like other attempts have untill a happy medium can come about that will make consumers, artists, producers and everyone involved happy. Which will not be anytime soon as I see it. I sure would like to have a piece of the action of the guy the figures out a solution to all this.

As a collector and music enthusiast I have never found the whole issue more then a minor annoyance. In fact just getting the plastic wrap off a new CD is a bigger annoyance.

Thats all, bye

Regarding SONY/BMG's use of hidden DRM software on commercial CD's (and DVD's no doubt) On Nov 11, 2005, at 3:09 PM, Jon Kamm wrote:

Well, ...

It has to be a very difficult task for the music producers to come up with some way of controlling their music and make everyone happy. This recent Sony issue will probably fade away like other attempts have untill a happy medium can come about that will make consumers, artists, producers and everyone involved happy. Which will not be anytime soon as I see it. I sure would like to have a piece of the action of the guy the figures out a solution to all this.

I think that this problem has come about via the bigger threat to the 'RECORD LABEL' giants than sharing music. [Stats have proven that true fans of any Artist(s) will, after getting a copy of an album from their friend, eventually go out and buy that album or whatever it was they got a copy of, as they want something tangable to look at and proudly display in their collection. Just have a look at the fan sites out there, Jonn's is a great example, with all the artwork displayed from the pieces in his collection] The huge threat here to the record labels is PODCASTING! Anyone can record, produce and release their own material without the help of the 'Record Label contract' (these parts that were generally handled by the record label, thus freeing up the artist to their (suposadely) creative pursuits, (ignore the pop bubblegum schlop 40). Now, the artist has their own website, they sell their wares directly to the end consumer, no middleman, ie; the record label. the last piece of the puzzle is how do they get their awareness out there to the public? PODCASTING. cost? NOTHING. How? they upload their work, or portions thereof, to sites such as "the podsafe music network', where by doing so, allow any podcaster that wishes to include their "GREAT" creations in their shows for FREE. They never surrender their artistic title, or ownership of the material like the record labels require. The return? Unlimited 'podtime' to a GLOBAL MARKET! As a thank you to the artist for allowing the podcaster to play their wares, a link is always provided by the podcaster to the artist's website, or email if they don't have a site, where they then complete the transaction. Here's the math: Artist: 100% of all revenues generated by the sale of their work. Podcaster: Freedom to play any of the work that has been declared "podsafe" by the artist at no cost to them but to supply the link to allow the consumer to acquire their 'fixx'. Podcasters Love getting new material, and activly encourage artists to persue their dream, and provide them the means to do so without "selling their soul to the devil" Consumer: Exposure and access to a WHOLE WORLD of GREAT MUSIC not pro-offered them by the Record Labels and MASS MEDIA. Most of the products they obtain are available to them at much more reasonable prices than that offered by the "Industry" BIG TIME RECORD LABELS: ummmmm, aahhhh, well, ah, what do they get out of podcasting? Does anyone know? I do!, they get NOTHING!!!!!!! NO WONDER THEY'RE SCARED AS SHIT! (oops, did I say that out loud {snigger snigger}) For this reason, I'm not suprized that they are installing their spyware on the general public. Their entire Livelyhood and future is being usurped by the growing army of music lovers, through podcasting. I wouldn't doubt either, that this spyware, read DRM, is being used to track the origins and contents of the consumers libraries, including what came about via podcasts. Laurens van Graft The Grip Guy (thegripguy@rogers.com) All your gymnastics grip needs right here! PODCASTING IS CHANGING THE WORLD!