This discussion deals with digital rights, copyright, and fair use issues. Personally I am torn between my feeling on these issues since I see both sides. While I do not advocate piracy, I am not sure that our current copyright and fair use laws are in the best interest of the artists, but in place for the record labels, RIAA, BMI, and ASCAP.
Question 1 asks if I have ever had trouble using a product due to copy protection. Of course I have, mainly with software. Any copy protection is going to limit user friendliness. I hate having to make sure a certain CD is in my CDRom before I can run a program. While registration keys are probably on of the more user friendly copy protection devices, it is just another thing I have to keep track of in case I ever need to reinstall the software.
Question 2 asks if music download sites, such as ITunes Music Store, offer consumers with enough flexibility for copying files and creating playlists. What do I know, I have never downloaded a music file from any pay site. If I want a particular piece of music I also want the extra’s that go with the CD, therefor I have an extensive collection of CD’s and vinyl, yes I said vinyl. I do purchase a lot of this music second hand, thrift stores and rummage sales, which brings up a whole new copyright issue. I also record a lot of the vinyl to digital, which may or may not be legal.
Question 3 asks if if I feel that digital rights management technologies are justified because of the high rate of piracy. As I stated at the start of this blog, I am torn in my feelings here. While the artists and companies creating the media have a right to say how it is used, the consumer has purchased the product and should have so rights to use the product as the see fit, providing this use does not violate the rights of the owner of the copyright. This is where the problem lies. If the media is open to copy there is no way of stopping people from violating the copyright, while if the copy is limited then we are violating the rights of the consumer.
