Thought this was an interesting article on DRM.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/02/AR2005110202

Another explanation.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051101-5514.html

More technical

http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html

Take care.
Steve

• http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html

I'd emphasize, as I said before, that I am sympathetic to the rights of copyright holders. I have no right to copy and distribute, say, a novel, without the consent of the copyright holder. Why would I have a greater right to copy and distribute musical works? Nor do I think this means that Sony is evil incarnate, although I do think the company is subject to criticism (and potential legal liability) for inadequate notice in the UELA.

That said, I get very nervous when people start screwing around with my computer.

• Sony Software Update

You may be right that the music companies are not acting in their best interests by aggressively attempting to shut down copying. I've seen some articles contending that certain copying encourages music sales by allowing consumers to sample music they might not otherwise hear. On the other hand, digital copying is a lot easier (and less time-consuming) than taping was, and there is also the general consumer perception that digital copying results in a "perfect" copy (bits is bits) that taping never did, and companies are understandably concerned that digital copying may represent a threat that analog taping never did.

Whoever is correct in the debate, however, the issue whether the companies are acting wisely and in their own best interest is different from whether they have the right to prevent copying.

Unfortunately, we are at a point in the technology at which preventing or limiting copying is feasible, but only if executed in a clumsy and intrusive way.

One way to limit the confrontation may be to have more "artist" (God, I hate that word) input. As you suggest, the Rolling Stones may want copy protection on their discs; everyone knows who they are and sampling is unlikely to increase sales. An obscure band issuing its first "major" label album, on the other hand, might want to encourage sampling and copying in the hope that it will generate greater exposure and ultimately sales.

ANother reason why I am not buying these labels again, unless used.
Going to buy direct from artists from now on, or from www.cdbaby.com
akhilesh

I see your points and agree. I was wondering about a compromise, say having a portion of a song, or portion of songs on an entire CD, that people could listen too? That way, in order to hear the whole song, or CD, one would have to purchase it.

The reason I mention this is that I have wanted to purchase CDs, but since I couldn't sample them, I didn't know how well I would like the songs. The quality of the sonics, the actual recording process, I probably couldn't realize, though, until I actually purchased the CD.

Think this might work?

Take care.
Steve