If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard people like the RIAA and recording companies complain about music and ownership and how they don’t get enough money. First it was P2P, and how online file swapping made the music industry lose “millions” (a claim which was later debunked). So legit services came out. Napster, Y! Music, Rhapsody, iTunes Music Store, etc. People are able to pay for music now. Everything must be going well.

Except now we know where the RIAA and recording companies are really going with all of this. Sure, it’s nice that you bought the CD and played in your car. But what if you want to copy that song on to your computer and add it to your music collection? Perhaps you want to rip that CD and copy it on to your mp3 player? Harmless?

Before I continue, remember: you paid for the CD, and “apparently” you have the “right” to listen to the music you purchased.

So, again, is this simple act harmless? Copying that awesome song to your mp3 player because you don’t want to haul around a portable CD player with CDs? Or are you just another thief–a proponent to the corruption of music in society–and probably contributing to terrorism some how?

Sorry to break the news, but you are. In a testimony by Jennifer Pariser (the head of litigation for Sony BMG) on October 2, you are causing those poor music recording companies to lose money back and forth.

From ars technica:

Pariser noted that music labels make no money on touring, radio, or merchandise, which leaves the company particularly exposed to the negative effects of file-sharing. “It’s my personal belief that Sony BMG is half the size now as it was in 2000,” she said, thanks to piracy. In Pariser’s view, “when people steal, when they take music without compensation, we are harmed.”

Pariser has a very broad definition of “stealing.” When questioned by Richard Gabriel, lead counsel for the record labels, Pariser suggested that what millions of music fans do is actually theft. The dirty deed? Ripping your own CDs or downloading songs you already own.

Gabriel asked if it was wrong for consumers to make copies of music which they have purchased, even just one copy. Pariser replied, “When an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song.” Making “a copy” of a purchased song is just “a nice way of saying ’steals just one copy’,” she said.

So, you copying that CD for your mp3 player? Illegal! Buy a new one!
Making a backup of your purchased (and DRM’d) collection off the Music Store of your choice? Illegal! Buy a new one!

Fair Use? Ha ha!

<notamused>

~Jaker