DRM Backlash
June 21st, 2004 by admin
Recently, the music industry has been experimenting in putting a new technology called DRM into the cd’s which prevent the cd’s from being copies. This has caused a great load of concern not only from music fans, but also from privacy advocates.
Apparently the DRM software installs automatically without the computer owner’s knowledge as soon as the cd is inserted into the computer. The cd also restricts the music buyer from copying the cd for the car or walkman or even transferring the songs to their Ipod player. It seems counter productive for the music labels because it actually encourages people to download illegal copies from places like Kazaa, so they can make copies of the tracks.
One of the biggest cds to receive the backlash has been the Beastie Boys’ New Cd, ‘To the Five Boroughs’. It’s unknown if the Beasties actually approved of the technology themselves, but taking a look at the message board on their official site shows that their fans are none too happy about this new technology. However, their label EMI has said that all cds they release are with DRM, so Beastie Boys’ album wasn’t necessarily singled out.