Well, it happened. I purchased my first crippled CD yesterday.
I originally found out about the recording industry's intention to copy-protect their CDs some time ago. Until now, though, I hadn't actually hit the problem.
The CD I can't use: Radiohead: Hail to the Thief. Appropriate title, really.
It seems that EMI Canada has decided that us poor Canadian's should suffer, while the American Mothership keeps going. That's right, the CD is crippled in Canada, Australia and elsewhere, but not in the Good Ole' U.S. of A.
Okay, EMI, you win. I'm going to take back this CD, which I paid $17.99CDN for, and will proceed to download the songs from the net. Are you happy now? Are you stopping piracy yet?
Actually, I guess this a good thing. (For me, anyway.) See, I've done a bit of research, and it turns out that, as a Canadian citizen, I'm free and clear to legally do P2P. In 1998 the brilliant government started taxing us for blank media. Their wording makes it legal for someone to borrow another person's music and copy it, while keeping it illegal for the same person to copy their music for someone else. Makes perfect sense, right? Whatever.
Anyway, I'm pissed at EMI. I've always sworn off these P2P file sharing programs, preferring instead to actually BUY the CD and rip it myself. Well, if I can't buy the CD and rip it myself then who am I to say no to taking it (quasi-legally) for free.
The worst part is that all of this time I've been telling everyone I can to not use these P2P services. I've guilted dozens of people, defending CD sales. Just think, all of this time I could have been just going with the flow and grabbing music like there's no tomorrow.
Well EMI, thanks a bunch. As I said in my previous rant, you just saved me about $600/year.
A sad day.