p2pnet - rss feed: Burnable CDs: More
p2pnet.net News:- Our June 2 Limit number of burnable CDs touched a few sore spots.
We published one of the comments here, and here’s a comment on the comment.
Now read on >>>>>>>>>>>
In Canada, the rules for fair use stem from Mix tapes.
I can lend you my Album (then vinyl was popular) or CD, etc, and you can listen to it, make mixed tapes, etc. I merely lent you my possession. NOT Illegal - at least not here in Canada - and judges have ruled it is COMPLETELY within our rights as Canadians to make said mixed tapes.
However, it is NOT legal for ME to copy the CD/etc and give a full copy to you. That would be infringement.
Now, judges have recently re-affirmed this right with the file sharing analogy; ie: a shared file on the internet is akin to a photocopier in a library. Sure, it’s potentially available to millions, but will they really all copy it? (Which is - of course - the argument RIAA and CRIA use when trying to stomp on fair use rights and subpoena users illegally).
Mixed tapes are not illegal, nor are mp3 backups.
When they make them illegal in Canada, about 30 years of history will go up in smoke … but then … since people here pretty much ignore pot laws too, I suspect the CRIA will be shown the door as well.
One final thing: WE PAY FOR THE RIGHT TO INFRINGE here in Canada, taxes are levied on EVERY SINGLE CD sold, as well as digital Audio, MP3 players, and cassette tapes. This money GOES TO CRIA (and they give it to the artists … ya RIGHT), to compensate them for this infringement.
We don’t (YET) pay for DVD’s, but I suspect it is a matter of time.
I hope the first person to be sued brings up this whole tax issue, and kicks their arse outta court. It’s about time.
My only fear is that spineless Canadian Politicians (The only kind here) will give in to big business and enact some draconian laws like they have in the US.
The thing that galls me is they say “we are losing money” but it’s lost INCREASES in sales they are quoting.
Well sheesh. How can you lose something you never had? Especially in light of all the things people do INSTEAD of watching TV, listening to music, or renting movies? Y’know, 128 channels to surf, games to play, websites to put anon comments on … etc…..
June 8th, 2004 at 4:48 am
Oh god, I hate to post on my own rant (thanks, by the way, such a warm feeling, seeing my words up in black on white), but I just had to provide a few links showing the evidence.
The prices are:
Audio Cassettes (40 minutes or more in length): 29¢
CD-R or CD-RW: 21¢
CD-R Audio, CD-RW Audio or MiniDisc: 77
We pay through the nose damnit, and I for one am sick of hearing about CRIA using this tax they’ve collected to go after teenagers who would just be recording off the radio ANYWAY…..
The official Government website:
http://www.cb-cda.gc.ca/news/c19992000nr-e.html
And the Government explanation of WHY IT’S LEGAL:
http://www.cb-cda.gc.ca/news/c19992000fs-e.html
The funny thing is that a CD-R Audio and a CD-R Data, are essentially the same thing! I always grin when I’m at Costco or some other bix box retailer (not that I’d by my CD’s/DVD’s there! So pricy!) and the “Audio” CD’s are about 2 or 3 times as expensive as the “data” CD’s. lol.
And some other related ones that simplify things, add, etc.:
http://neil.eton.ca/copylevy.shtml
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/digitalplayers/
http://www.cs.usask.ca/undergrads/rbd474/summaries/cdrewritable.html
http://www.dww.com/articles/billc32article.htm
Cheers all!
June 8th, 2004 at 9:56 am
These companies are wasting their time to find ways to stopy copying of CDs (and DVDs). Anything a man can do to “stop” the copying can be undone by another man.
Also, there are many programs out that capture audio (digital audio at that) and make an excellent copy to disk. An innovative programmer can take that further by capturing that, automatically doing any cleanup (most likely unnecessary) and then setting it into MP3s.
While all this may not be as good as copying the disk, most people could not tell the difference.
June 9th, 2004 at 2:56 am
Hell, my Creative Labs sound blaster Audigy came with an audio capture tool! I also went and downloaded one to capture some audio, and it worked great.
Just for those interested, go to http://www.snapfiles.com and click on “Freeware” you’ll find tons of CD/DVD ripping, burning, streaming, etc, etc. tools. All 100% free.