Wal-Mart DRM Take Away

[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?