Burning and re-ripping introduces two more format transitions. If you started with 128 kbit (yuck) music, now you're probably at 96 kbit levels (terrible). People give the companies too much slack for the "burning loophole" - it's not a 1:1 conversion, people! It could be, if the original format was lossless, but we haven't had the option to buy lossless music online since AllOfMP3 disappeared. I do not accept that as a valid option or excuse for DRM.
@Neal's second comment:
Let's take this to its logical conclusion. Hypothetically, all media (including books) could become digitally distributed at some time in the future. A modern analogue of Shakespeare comes along, signs a contract and begins writing for a particular company whose products cannot be displayed without a check to a DRM server. He isn't recognized as a literary great immediately, his work doesn't make much money, and the company goes under taking their DRM servers with them. Suddenly, we AS A CULTURE have irretrievably lost part of our history.
That is unacceptable. There should be LAWS on the books that any implementation of DRM can and will be completely removed from every file it infects when: A) The work in question transitions into the public domain B) The owner of the work in question ceases to distribute / attempt to profit off of the work (this covers corporate failures & policy changes as in TFA's case)
Anything else is simply unacceptable. Disclaimer: I have never once purchased music online and never will until non-DRM-infected, lossless options become legally available. Until then, it's CDs (not from Sony/BMG) or nothing.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Josh Warner @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:56PM
@Neal, first comment:
Burning and re-ripping introduces two more format transitions. If you started with 128 kbit (yuck) music, now you're probably at 96 kbit levels (terrible). People give the companies too much slack for the "burning loophole" - it's not a 1:1 conversion, people! It could be, if the original format was lossless, but we haven't had the option to buy lossless music online since AllOfMP3 disappeared. I do not accept that as a valid option or excuse for DRM.
@Neal's second comment:
Let's take this to its logical conclusion. Hypothetically, all media (including books) could become digitally distributed at some time in the future. A modern analogue of Shakespeare comes along, signs a contract and begins writing for a particular company whose products cannot be displayed without a check to a DRM server. He isn't recognized as a literary great immediately, his work doesn't make much money, and the company goes under taking their DRM servers with them. Suddenly, we AS A CULTURE have irretrievably lost part of our history.
That is unacceptable. There should be LAWS on the books that any implementation of DRM can and will be completely removed from every file it infects when:
A) The work in question transitions into the public domain
B) The owner of the work in question ceases to distribute / attempt to profit off of the work (this covers corporate failures & policy changes as in TFA's case)
Anything else is simply unacceptable. Disclaimer: I have never once purchased music online and never will until non-DRM-infected, lossless options become legally available. Until then, it's CDs (not from Sony/BMG) or nothing.