A consumer complains about the use of copy control technology

I hate Copy Controlled CDs with a vengeance, and bought one by mistake today - Interpol's The Black EP. I've handed over money to buy a CD which features one track I have already got, one I haven't, and four 'alternate' version of tracks I have already got, only to find I can't use the item as I see fit.

I mostly listen to music in two places. At work, using iTunes on my laptop - and I can't rip mp3's from this disc. And I listen to music on the way to work on my minidisc player - and my little combined CD/MD teenie-weenie system for the living room at home is configured to not allow me to record Copy Controlled CDs onto MD either. So I've paid ten quid for something I can't use in either of my primary listening locations, and they wonder why physical music sales are down?

Interpol are going straight back to the shop tomorrow...despite the quote in this PDF FAQ [PDF file: 20k] from the BPI website:

Q. Have there been many consumer complaints about the use of copy control technologies?

A. Reports from around Europe and in Japan indicate that the number of complaints has been very low indeed.

Well, you can add this one.

see also: Campaign for Digital Rights - Corrupt audio discs

Posted by Martin Belam, January 12, 2004    
Read the latest posts about: Music
The views expressed on currybetdotnet are my own, and do not reflect the views of Guardian News and Media Limited, or any current or former clients or employers. Read my blogging principles
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