Comments on: RIAA Targets Transferring Music to PCs

By: Catharine

Catharine — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:41:31 +0000

Interesting point, Stephen. I hadn't thought of that. It is fascinating to me that, complain though they might about people illegally distributing, sharing and downloading music via computers and the Internet, the RIAA seems hellbent on creating a world in which only by doing so can anyone have access to music they can actually listen to.

P.S. Shakespeare was right about the lawyers. They really just need to go. ~C~

By: Stephen Crowsen

Stephen Crowsen — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:54:20 +0000

I think it is forgotten that a CD is completely different from a phonograph cylinder, an old 78 record, an LP, and event a cassette tape, because it isn't actually music that is recorded on it. The information on an LP is basically a physical form of the analogue sound, the information on a CD is bits and bytes that are interwoven in such a manner as to be unintelligible without the aid of a “computer” to extract it and a digital to analogue converter to make it into sound.
As I see this issue there are two important points that need to be clarified: 1) What exactly does the RIAA define as “format shifting”? The music on a CD is interleaved, so you cannot extract the information in a sequential order and just play it (like the old LPs do). You need to store the information in RAM so you can rebuild the correct sequence of information before you feed it into a Digital to Analogue convertor. To just play a CD you could argue you need to “format shift” to produce sound. So what is it EXACTLY that makes it legal to extract information from a WAV file, store it in RAM, and then feed that information to a D to A convertor; but illegal to extract information from an MP3 file, store it in RAM, and then feed that information to a D to A convertor?
2) What exactly is a “computer”? If a computer is a central processor, some software, and some RAM, then you could argue you won't even be allowed to play a CD because that is exactly what is required to play a CD. It is arguable that difference between a CD player and a PC is the complexity of the computer.

By: zephxiii

zephxiii — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:11:01 +0000

greed -

–noun
excessive or rapacious desire, esp. for wealth or possessions.
[Origin: 1600–10; back formation from greedy]

—Related forms
greedless, adjective
greedsome, adjective

—Synonyms avarice, avidity, cupidity, covetousness; voracity, ravenousness, rapacity. Greed, greediness denote an excessive, extreme desire for something, often more than one's proper share. Greed means avid desire for gain or wealth (unless some other application is indicated) and is definitely uncomplimentary in implication: His greed drove him to exploit his workers. Greediness, when unqualified, suggests a craving for food; it may, however, be applied to all avid desires, and need not be always uncomplimentary: greediness for knowledge, fame, praise.
(ex. RIAA)

—Antonyms generosity.
(ex. Google)

By: Carlo

Carlo — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:04:51 +0000

The RIAA sure is trying to chip away at our rights. They better not win this. Just because it's a CD and not a printed book doesn't take our our right to retain a copy for personal use. This has always been a part of fair use doctrine.