Wal-Mart DRM Take Away

[drmsucks]

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/26/walmart-shutting-dow.html

FTA:

Wal*Mart shutting down DRM server, nuking your music collection -- only people who pay for music risk losing it to DRM shenanigans
Posted by Cory Doctorow, September 26, 2008 8:34 PM | permalink

Hey suckers! Did you buy DRM music from Wal*Mart instead of downloading MP3s for free from the P2P networks? Well, they're repaying your honesty by taking away your music. Unless you go through a bunch of hoops (that you may never find out about, if you've changed email addresses or if you're not a very technical person), your music will no longer be playable after October 9th.

But don't worry, this will never ever happen to all those other DRM companies -- unlike little fly-by-night mom-and-pop operations like Wal*Mart, the DRM companies are rock-ribbed veterans of commerce and industry, sure to be here for a thousand years. So go on buying your Audible books, your iTunes DRM songs, your Zune media, your EA games... None of these companies will ever disappear, nor will the third-party DRM suppliers they use. They are as solid and permanent as Commodore, Atari, the Soviet Union, the American credit system and the Roman Empire.

Boy, the entertainment industry sure makes a good case for ripping them off, huh? Buy your media and risk having it confiscated by a DRM-server shutdown. Take it for free and keep it forever.

    From: Walmart Music Team
    Date: Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 7:42 PM
    Subject: Important Information About Your Walmart.com Digital Music Purchases
    To: [email protected]

    Important Information About Your Digital Music Purchases

    We hope you are enjoying the increased music quality/bitrate and the improved usability of Walmart's MP3 music downloads. We began offering MP3s in August 2007 and have offered only DRM (digital rights management) -free MP3s since February 2008. As the final stage of our transition to a full DRM-free MP3 download store, Walmart will be shutting down our digital rights management system that supports protected songs and albums purchased from our site.

    If you have purchased protected WMA music files from our site prior to Feb 2008, we strongly recommend that you back up your songs by burning them to a recordable audio CD. By backing up your songs, you will be able to access them from any personal computer. This change does not impact songs or albums purchased after Feb 2008, as those are DRM-free.

    Beginning October 9, we will no longer be able to assist with digital rights management issues for protected WMA files purchased from Walmart.com. If you do not back up your files before this date, you will no longer be able to transfer your songs to other computers or access your songs after changing or reinstalling your operating system or in the event of a system crash. Your music and video collections will still play on the originally authorized computer.

    Thank you for using Walmart.com for music downloads. We are working hard to make our store better than ever and easier to use.

    Walmart Music Team

[Aegis]

Lovely.

You know, I subscribed to iTunes for a while.  I had a problem with my hard drive -- not their fault, I know -- and didn't have proper backup.  iTunes said they had no records of my transactions, and no way to help me.  I never went back.

[drmsucks]

Yep - drmsucks

[BC_Programmer]

I can proudly say that the only DRM protected files I've- "encountered" were promptly deleted from my hard Drive.


If I buy music, I get a CD, not the lossy compression that is WMA or MP3, regardless of how much they claim it's "CD-quality".

Microsoft (with WMA). your compressing the files by throwing away data. It still sounds good, but don't go claiming that by removing over half the data of a CD track it's still the same quality.

I originally ripped my CD collection at 128kbps- sounded alright- but when I play my music with CDs, I'm blown away by the clarity. (I plan on re-ripping them at 320kbps, now that my HD space is not at a premium.)

and guess what else? Hard Drive fails? have to reformat? No need to back up your "license keys" or other nonsense. Just get your OS reinstalled, and rip your CD collection. Or, even better- just copy the music you've already ripped.


The benefits of CD-audio are underrated.

[Broni]

No comment.

[BC_Programmer]

No comment.

No comment for what? My senseless ramblings, or the wal-mart shutdown?

[Broni]

Walmart's BS.

[Dilbert]

Just a friendly warning, all: For legal reasons, do not post links to MP3 sharing sites, or discuss in much detail any illegal file sharing going on. I'm not accusing anyone, just know that any posts too explicit on the subject will have to be removed.

As for my personal opinion: I hate DRM. It's one thing to protect the artist's chance at getting royalties - it's quite another to treat paying customers like criminals.

Oh, and screwing them out of music sucks too.

[evilfantasy]

Hey suckers! Did you buy DRM music from Wal*Mart instead of downloading MP3s for free from the P2P networks?

Digital rights management (DRM) <- what part of that doesn't sound like a headache?

Here is a crazy thought. Get off your a$$ and go buy CD's

Then you can do with them what you want. Put them on your MP3 and play them in any player you wish.

These comments are not directed at anybody specific so please don't take them personally.

[BC_Programmer]

Here is a crazy thought. Get off your a$$ and go buy CD's

Exactly! And there won't be any trade-offs with quality either!

[evilfantasy]

Exactly! And there won't be any trade-offs with quality either!

I often refrain from posting my first thoughts. Couldn't help that one...

[BC_Programmer]

Well I, for one- agree whole-heartedly.

[Broni]

Let's go back a little.
Why did Napster happen?
Number of reasons, but one of them was, that in order to listen to just one song, you fell in love with, you had to buy a whole CD for $15-$20, or so.
In many cases, just couple of songs were worth something, and the others were just garbage.
Many people, including myself, felt, it was just a rip-off.

Napster, and its follow-ups were just very right lesson, which whole music industry learned very fast. They started to sell songs individually.
Without Napster, and others, that would never happen, and a rip-off would continue.

We know by now, how music industry lied to us about all those loses, they suffered. They were grossly exaggerated.

Buying a whole CD in many cases is just going back to old times. In many cases, people don't want to buy a whole CD. They just want 1, 2, or 3 songs from that CD, and that's a whole idea behind Walmart, iTubes, and other services.

Saying "go buy a whole CD" has nothing to do with people being ripped off by Walmart.
Just my 2 cents.

[BC_Programmer]

Ahh yes- Thanks Broni, I forgot that angle- It's weird that they had Singles LPs, but they never made anything like a Singles CD- (they could have used the 3 1/2" CD size)

Honestly- I don't listen to todays music, but I've found that even if I don't initially like a song, over time I grow to like it. This is true for many of my current favourite Queen songs, which I never would have heard if I had not bought their platinum collection.


On the other hand, a lot of people only have a passing interest in an Artist, and would only want their hits, not really caring if the CD had an acoustic version of the bands initial few songs.

We know by now, how music industry lied to us about all those loses, they suffered. They were grossly exaggerated.

Hey, some Artists were essentially transient! I mean, some had to settle on a 282 Seat personal jet rather then the Boeing Special Issue "Part T. TIL 747 AM". And it's all because we downloaded music.

lol

[drmsucks]

Just a friendly warning, all: For legal reasons, do not post links to MP3 sharing sites, or discuss in much detail any illegal file sharing going on. I'm not accusing anyone, just know that any posts too explicit on the subject will have to be removed.

This thread hasn't even hinted at illegality- nor is that it's purpose. What are you warning against...and why? What makes you think that people are going to post "MP3 sharing sites?"

This thread is about (possibly) taking away the right of people to access the music they have paid for because of a silly, convoluted system devised to line the pockets of record companies - and, it's not the first time that it has happened. It's not illegal to have DRM free music - just ask Amazon.

[Broni]

but they never made anything like a Singles CD

Exactly one of my points.
Only(?) in America, maybe.
I was staying in West Germany in mid 80s, and there was no problem to buy a single cassette with all greatest hits from given month. But not here.
How many artists are just known from one, or two songs? Plenty. I don't want to buy a whole CD to listen to one song.

[drmsucks]

Let's go back a little.
Why did Napster happen?
Number of reasons, but one of them was, that in order to listen to just one song, you fell in love with, you had to buy a whole CD for $15-$20, or so.

Absolutely right...and many, many (old) Napster users would happily have paid 75˘  - $1.00 to purchase the song from Amazon - if that had been an option. But, it wasn't - the option was $15.00 to get the song you liked and 5 - 10 awful, other songs; or Napster.

[BC_Programmer]

The music industry probably could have avoided this whole problem when the Red Book was published-

Singles on 3 1/2" cds for cheaper.

But no, I guess that would cut into their profits, since fewer people would buy the 10-15$ full albums, instead going for the one good song on the album.

[evilfantasy]

This thread hasn't but the author of the blog, or whatever it is, did. Which is why I made the comment I did.

Hey suckers! Did you buy DRM music from Wal*Mart instead of downloading MP3s for free from the P2P networks?

P2P shouldn't have been mentioned if he really wants to make a serious argument.

I don't agree with them changing this and people loosing their paid music and I wasn't getting at that. BUT just seeing DRM when I am thinking about paying for something is enough to turn me away. Like I said, what part of it isn't a headache?

[Broni]

Hey suckers! Did you buy DRM music from Wal*Mart instead of downloading MP3s for free from the P2P networks?

In a view of a whole article, I see it rather as sarcastic statement, not pushing people toward P2P.
However, Walmart-like actions, surely push people toward P2P.

[Dilbert]

This thread hasn't even hinted at illegality- nor is that it's purpose. What are you warning against...and why?

Well, nobody probably will actually post a site or anything like that. However, every now and again it's good to remind people about official policy on the site, which is that we cannot allow people to help other people crack programs, find warez or share mp3s. It's really a PSA more than anything, and I figured doing it in this thread was the most appropriate. The topic is about DRM and how companies can screw over people who buy DRM-protected content.

Logically, that would imply that those who do not use DRM-protected content are better off, a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. However, in the eyes of a Mod (or an RIAA agent), it can take a few small steps to go from "DRM sucks" to "here's a place to get your favorite songs for free". Again, I don't think anyone will actually do this, but let's squelch the remote possibility, shall we?

[drmsucks]

Logically, that would imply that those who do not use DRM-protected content are better off

Incontrovertible...

[BC_Programmer]

I have voluntarily removed this post for containing excessively stupid content.

-BC_Programmer

[chriscool9]

Guys seriously, let it go.
Just a reminder!!
Chill

But yea back to the point, actions like this are hardly the right way about convincing people to purchase legal music is it?!

Chris
xx

[Dilbert]

BC_Programmer, I've sent you a PM (Warning: It's very long. I'm sorry.). I'd prefer to not derail the thread any further, so I'd like to finish this discussion in private. Thank you.

chriscool9, I totally agree. Treating paying customers like thieves has hurt EA Games tremendously, and it's going to hit the music industry next when the inertia of DRM-backlash gets going.

[BC_Programmer]

call me out of the loop- but I was completely unaware of any DRM or suchforth present in EA games! When did they start this practice?

[Dilbert]

I think the biggest outcry was with Metal Gear Solid - they had made it so that the game had to be able to contact EA, or it wouldn't launch, and they re-authenticated the game every update... some other stuff I can't remember... but the most egregious was that the game was limited to 3 installs. And guess what? If you upgraded your hardware, it burned up an install.

There was the story of the guy who had problems with performance in MGS4, so he upgraded his video card, and his motherboard/CPU, and... something else, probably RAM - and suddenly it wouldn't play anymore, saying he'd burned his 3 installs and had to purchase the game again. EA Tech Support eventually reversed this and allowed him to play more, but his tale achieved Internet Fame status, and EA got a huge backlash of hate mail, boycotts and other crap.

Ditto for the new game, Spore - 3 installs. And a bunch of other crap that I can't remember at the moment. (It's not that they weren't big issues, it's just that all the articles I'm finding online now are the ones where EA reduced its DRM protection.)

A ton of gamers decided not to buy Spore - which has been Will Wright's brainchild in the making since around Sim City 2000 came out (so a VERY long time) - because of EA's involvement. Check out how Amazon reviewers bashed Spore for having EA's grubby paws on it. It doesn't get much worse than that.

As it happens, I'm actually involved in the boycott on EA. Not as part of some organization - I just refuse to buy EA Games products while this oppression of gamers' rights continues. I'm all for protecting the chance for companies to make money. The programmers have to eat too, you know. However, treating paying customers like criminals is horrific.

Not to mention, they're using SecuROM - known for security holes and spyware - as their protection methods. SecuROM, by the way, which was hacked and cracked by the Reloaded! team for Spore before it was even released in North America. Now that is pathetic.

EDIT: Forgot to mention: After all this public outcry EA reduced the grip of DRM on Spore - but now, if you discuss DRM on the EA forums... you get banned from the forums, and your account for Spore/MGS/whatever gets removed, and you have to buy the game again. Nice.

[drmsucks]

Another interesting perspective on DRM: http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2163/72/

[evilfantasy]

He put a nice spin on it but earns another "get off your a$$" statement from me...

[BC_Programmer]

Even though they don't release singles any longer on physical media- that doesn't give anybody the right to download the music for free from the internet (which nobody has said in this thread, but I've heard it used as a justification "well I only want one song" type thing.

It's like something you can buy that comes in a set- say, christmas ornaments. Just because you like one or two if the ornaments, doesn't mean you don't buy the other ones.

Sure, with music- your paying the full album price- but, that's the way the cookie crumbles. The people that downloaded from Wal*Mart's store probably thought the same thing "well, I only like this song. No reason to purchase the whole album". I'm sure other people bought the CD.


After the DRM file stops working- who will have the last laugh? the ones who paid a little more and can still use their CD, or those that purchased through a now defunct DRM music store?

[drmsucks]

No reason to buy a CD -> Amazon most likely has the single that you want.

First single that I ever bought was Little Darlin' by the Diamonds in 1957...on a 45...88˘. Of course, it wasn't a "single" it was a "dual"...but, I don't remember what was on the other side

88˘ in 1957 is ≈ $10.00 today; so, 99˘/song at Amazon doesn't sound too bad. And, like that 45 rpm record, you can play it on anything that can play it

[BC_Programmer]

what format does Amazon distribute said singles?

[drmsucks]

what format does Amazon distribute said singles?

MP3 - 256 kbps.

http://www.amazon.com/MP3-Music-Download/b/ref=sa_menu_dmusic1/104-9447949-5588712?_encoding=UTF8&node=163856011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=left-nav-1&pf_rd_r=1S65569B5ZFEMM97A5AK&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=328655101&pf_rd_i=507846