Download music illegally, you get cornered and issued cease and desist letters from your ISP. Worst you get sued and stand a chance to be the next spokesman for the yellow ribbon campaign. As featured in tomorrow.sg, someone posted up a copy of the cease and desist letters on the web. Problem is, I read that legal documents by private attorney are copyrighted by itself so go see it before the poor fellow receive another cease and desist letter for reproducing and distributing the documents.

On the other hand, Sony BMG, who has a 25% share of worldwide music industry, installs digital rights management software, when you insert their copy protected CD, that does all of the following:
1.) Installs itself without permission
2.) Unable to uninstall itself
3.) Software uses spyware/virus/malware technique to hide itself
4.) The software was poorly written and it introduces a security hole in your system so your PC becomes open to malicious attack
5.) And you paid $20 for this piece of junk

Their misdeeds were uncovered by accidentally by some geeks testing out some software. He almost screwed up his computer when he tried to remove it (in fact the software disabled his CD-rom drive when he tried) and the advice he gives to regular users like us:"most users that stumble across the cloaked files with a RKR scan will cripple their computer if they attempt the obvious step of deleting the cloaked files". Sweet.

Oh, did I mention that these CDs limit you to only 3 digital copies of the CD you bought and you can only rip out in WMA or ATRAC formats (iPod users get screwed here)

Now for the million dollar questions...
1.) Which is worst?
(a) continue downloading illegal music and risk getting a cease and desist letter and stop
(b) buy original CDs and get your computer security compromised leaving it vulnerable for malicious attacks of the form including but not limited to stealing of your credit card number and identity thefts.

2.) Which has a lower odds of occuring
(a) getting caught with downloading illegal music
(b) getting your PC screwed

Music has never been so complicated. I am so disgusted that it makes me feel like boycotting all Sony products, including non-music related such as digital cameras.



Suddenly the line-in port for soundcards found a new lease of life for CD rippers.

Related information: Legal issues on copyright (American version) by Chilling Effects, Boycott music

Boycott music

Tagged: singapore piracy