Have a PC? Enjoy the new Foo Fighters album... Not!
So since I work for a radio station I got the new Foo Fighters CD a few days ago (it doesn't come out for another week) and noticed an interesting sticker on the front which reads:
"This CD is protected against unauthorized duplication. It is designed to play on standard playback devices and an appropriately configured computer."
On the back of the CD is a disclaimer which makes things a little clearer. It basically says that when you put this CD in your PC your going to be prompted with a installer which wants you to install software called MediaMax. You must install MediaMax in order to listen to your CD. If you don't install, you don't listen. Wanna copy your new Foo Fighters CD to your IPod, nope, MediaMax won't let you because iPods don't support "their" version of DRM (digital rights management [copy protection]). You can only copy your CD to MediaMax approved devices that play nicely with their DRM.
I tried this on my PC and it did exactly what it said, it didn't allow me to play the CD unless I install their software and accept all their terms about how I must delete any music off my MP3 player if I lose the CD since I have no rights to the music unless I have the CD in my possession, etc, etc. I didn't test it any further because I didn't want to accept their terms or install their software...
Sucks doesn't it... Not if you own a Mac! Just put the CD in and it starts playing in iTunes. Wanna rip it? Go ahead, use any program of your choice to rip it into any format you want and wala, your own digital copy! I guess your software is only designed to punish PC users, because it certainly didn't cause any problems for me or my Mac.
Apparently BMG/Sony plan to imbed this program into most of their upcoming CD releases. Just one more reason to get a Mac.
3 Comments:
"Just one more reason to get a Mac." How about, "Just one more reason to NOT buy your music from Sony BMG."
To make things worse, RCA/Sony BMG's DRM software is basically impossible to remove from a Windows computer.
In fact, it would appear that the only way to totally remove their software once it’s been installed is to format your hard drive. I shared my experience with this problem here: Use Sony DRM, Format Your Hard Drive
10:50 PM
I got to tell you, I am so pissed at Sony right now. I bought the Limited Edition Deluxe Version of the Foo Fighters CD and my computer will not even recognize the CD side of the DualDiscs. It plays fine in another CD player I have. But I just want to rip it into iTunes and put it on my iPod. I have written a letter to Sony. We'll see if they respond.
5:51 PM
good luck on the letter, they could not care less about your problems. They don't want you to rip it into iTunes, they don't want you to put it on your iPod, they don't want you to be able to back it up, they don't want you to do ANYTHING with it but play the disk..and they are willing to do anything to make that happen including screweing up your computer and fighting lawsuits to do so.. get used to it, all the other labels are coming out with their own versions
11:15 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home