CS2CD and afrayem both used our newssubmit to tell us that an influential U.S. lawmaker stepped up his criticism Wednesday of record labels' moves to protect CDs against copying:
"The RIAA's response...does little to relieve my concern that consumer fair-use protections are being threatened by what we now see is the intended widespread introduction into the U.S. of copy-protected CDs," Boucher said in a statement Wednesday.
All of the big record labels are moving slowly toward adding technology to their CDs that could prevent consumers from making digital copies on computers or standalone CD burners. Although only two titles have been openly released with the technology in the United States, the labels have been experimenting more aggressively in European markets.
The labels point to unauthorized CD copying as one of the most powerful trends, along with Internet file-sharing through services such as Kazaa or Morpheus, that is undermining the music industry's core business.
"While no doubt there are a number of factors to explain the current economic plight of the music industry, there can be no question that mass copying, free distribution and piracy are causing significant damage to those who create and market music," RIAA Chief Executive Hillary Rosen wrote.
Boucher is among the most prominent voices asking whether plans to gird CDs against unauthorized copying violates a compromise struck in a law called the Audio Home Recording Act. He quoted from a Senate Judiciary Committee report accompanying that law, which said that a "key purpose of (the legislation) is to insure the right of consumers to make analog and digital recordings of copyrighted music for private, noncommercial use."
The name 'Boucher' has been mentioned quite some times on the CD Freaks site... Finally someone standing up for the consumers' rights!
Read the full and interesting article here.
Source: News.com
