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In Reply to: RE: Chris Sommovigo: The Great Digital Swindle posted by Sprezza Tura on April 17, 2014 at 08:34:06
Can't one just back up the music files anywhere they like? You don't even need Itunes to play the files. You have access to the M4A folders in Itunes (in a PC environment anyways). I would never use Itunes to back-up my music.
And I don't need Itunes to play the stuff I bought there either...
So what's all the fuss about?
Cheers,
Presto
Follow Ups:
Didn't bother reading the article before commenting, did ya? He uses iTunes as a peripheral historical example.
I stopped reading after I read the part where he said he was concerned about "renting versus owning" and I am wondering how he came to the rental conclusion when you "possess" a digital copy of the music with no DRM or any other measures to stop it from being played on any piece of software with a M4A decorder.Now, if one was to 'own' their collection but had it stored on an Apple or Sony controled cloud... yeah, I'd call that renting. Lose a password or something else goes south and you could lose "access" to your collection. I would never buy into such a thing.
So, if this is the basis for him calling digital downloads a swindle then I think it's a misnomer.
I used to hear Itunes users say "I can't copy my songs to a non-Itunes device". As a PC user I never understood what they meant. I guess for us PC propellerheads ignorance is bliss...
Cheers,
Presto
Edits: 04/17/14 04/17/14
I don'tthink he made any mention of itunes concerning its idiosyncrasies and whether you can use iTunes media on other devices. Off point. This was not a technical article.A question ON point is: Are you aware of the law concerning digital media, ownership, and what you have the right to do with it?
The linked article discusses this issue using iTunes as an example, but it would apply to digital libraries purchased from ANY vendor.
Edits: 04/17/14 04/17/14
There are hundreds of scenarios where people could 'technically' get into trouble - even people who simply back up their physical CD collection. Granted, backing up your collection then selling the CD's off is clearly a violation. But the legal-speak surrounding backups is hazy. I don't even USE my original CD's, so they are effectively serving as the master archive. Is a CD copy ok but a HDD copy is not? Don't know. I use the files I have extracted - and I have them backed up as well because I have time invested in the extraction process. The files sit on a drive un-used. So, I have three copies - the original on physical media, the one on HDD I use, and the one on my backup HDD. Nobody can access these, nobody borrows these, nobody copies these and although it's theoretically possible for a person to play a CD upstairs WHILE I play one downstairs, well, that's getting silly. I've been at this 10+ years and I don't think I've ever even had two CD's playing at the same time, physical or otherwise.As for copying the iTunes directory? I backed up my HDD and it copied the iTunes directory and it's now on my backup drive. Find my a judge that is going to put my in jail and/or fine me $250K because I backed up a computer HDD and the iTunes library was included in said backup. Apple users might have needed to crack or circumvent iTunes draconian CRP methods but PC users are not subject to this.
So sure, one could make semantic arguments and offer "worst case legal scenarios" against even the simple act of backing up a CD library. I have not yet seen anyone anywhere get nailed for backing up their CD or DVD music collection. Many people using "backup software" and call blatant piracy "backing up"... I'm not one of those people so I don't worry.
The point is the people who are getting nailed are always people who are taking copyrighted material and either 'copying and selling', or simply 'making available through file sharing despite no monetary gain'. In a word, they are ripping off artists and that is something I refuse to be part of. I think paying $15 for an album is SO inexpensive to get a copy of work that takes thousands of manhours to create and millions worth of equipment. It's crazy to pirate (steal) a CD of all things... it's such an incredible value, music is (for me anyways).Cheers,
Presto
Edits: 04/17/14 04/17/14
"I have not yet seen anyone anywhere get nailed for backing up their CD or DVD music collection."
If the powers that be want your ass they will get you one way or the other another. That's a feature of living in what is fast becoming a totalitarian fascist dictatorship. Best to stay under the radar unless one is on some kind of a cosmic mission, at least while one can. Eventually the computerized panopticon will be fully realized and the totalitarian lockdown in full effect. I hope to be departed from this vale of tears before that day. :-)
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Which one assumes was something of a synopsis of the article.
I had the same reaction.
One could make one hundred CD-R copies of the "download" and sell it to ... someone, I guess. Same with the raw file - you could send it to folks who may or may not pay for it.
How much money could one get for a slightly used EXILE album? Certainly not enough to go out and buy another equally horrible record.
I think very highly of Mr. Sommovigo but was a bit shocked to hear what terrible records he bought in his youth. Proves there is hope for us all!
If one gets worked up enough about just about any product it can be construed a "swindle". I mean apples grow on trees and you have to pay for them at the grocery store.
I think the article was more than a little contrived and silly. You pays your money and take your choice, as the old saying goes. If you think it is worthless don't buy it. Go to a Russian download site and get it for free if it makes you feel better.
My synopsis, and the article, had precious little to do with iTunes. iTunes was mentioned as the the original entity that started moving folks away from physical product.Buying crappy records in our youth? Well..no shame in that! I have given away more albums than some on this board even own.
His point was..that if someone dies with a large Lp or CD collection, the heirs can happily enjoy that collection for the duration of their, lives, give it away, or sell it.
If that same person dies with hard drive filled with downloaded albums..too bad, the law says it cannot be passed on or given away and certainly not resold.
There are several other points he makes too. Like the fact that essentially you are "renting" the music files until you croak.
Free downloads on Russian sites? Give me a link!
Edits: 04/17/14
"If that same person dies with hard drive filled with downloaded albums..too bad, the law says it cannot be passed on
Anyone who cares about such a stupid law gets exactly what he deserves.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Saves the widow a trip to the thrift store or the dump. ;-)
I wonder what will happen with my gear when I am dead and what a pain in the ass it will likely be to whomever gets stuck clearing out my household.
I would love to give it to someone but I get the feeling no one would want it.
You are 100% correct. That is why I go out of my way to stick to those politicians who wrote the law as proxies of the entertainment and media conglomerates.
I just thought you were a little harsh.
There are lots of those places in Russia. You can get just about anything you want. I was told about them and they are interesting but I have found, strangely enough, that it is so much trouble to turn these downloads into something I can use that I would rather just spend the money! The old save you money waste your time conundrum ...
Most of the folks these days have such a strange view of value we may be the anachronistic ones in thinking one should have something you can hold in your hands. I am an LP guy and though I need reading glasses to read the jacket these days I like the idea that the best of my collection does have artistic and intrinsic value. I can see someone one hundred years from today wanting my LPs - I cannot imagine the same for any CD I own.
I am older than Chris so those records mentioned were never considered for purchase by me. I guess I was in a lucky period where there were more good records available than I had the money to purchase them. I have all but six or seven of every record I ever purchased. Not including the Beatles records my parents bought for me. Long ago destroyed ...
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