Computer questions and solutions....thereof...

[jonnythan]

Keep thinking that

Your Creative MP3 player cannot play DRM-ed songs from the iTunes store, no matter what you say or how much you spam the thread.

Actually well over a year ago, I seem to remember reading that iTunes decided they wanted to provide content to all mp3 players, not just limit their market to the iPod. As far as I can remember they were going to open their DRM content for other player manufacturers.

I wouldn't be surprised if Sev could play it just fine

They didn't do that.

This past month, the iTunes store has begun offering some tracks (those from EMI) in a higher-bitrate, DRM-free format for $1.29 a track.

"The only handheld devices licensed to play music from the iTunes Store are iPods, the upcoming iPhone, and selected Motorola mobile phones, such as the ROKR."

"Apple has maintained tight control of its FairPlay encryption. Other online music stores cannot sell music files encoded with FairPlay, and competing devices from companies such as Creative Labs and iRiver cannot play such files."

[Duane]

There are ways to strip the i-tunes drm and play the file on other mp3 players.

Just google removing itunes drm should provide you with a few options.

[jonnythan]

There are ways to strip the i-tunes drm and play the file on other mp3 players.

Just google removing itunes drm should provide you with a few options.

Yes, there are.

That turns them into non-DRM files, and it's illegal

You can't play iTunes downloads on any portable device besides an iPod (and some Motorola phones) without illegally cracking the DRM or burning to CD and re-ripping.

The only way to play files with FairPlay DRM on a Creative MP3 player is remove the DRM

[anarchy]

"The only handheld devices licensed to play music from the iTunes Store are iPods, the upcoming iPhone, and selected Motorola mobile phones, such as the ROKR."

and that's exactly why i won't ever buy music or anything through itunes...

[Duane]

That turns them into non-DRM files, and it's illegal

I think the legality is still blurred and I'm sure that discussion could easily take up its own thread alone.

As long as you don't redistribute the files you got nothing to worry about. They are only going after people who distribute copy written materials. So don't download/upload on p2p networks (torrents, limewire, etc.) or attempt to sell the files and you will be fine.

[jonnythan]

That turns them into non-DRM files, and it's illegal

I think the legality is still blurred and I'm sure that discussion could easily take up its own thread alone.

As long as you don't redistribute the files you got nothing to worry about. They are only going after people who distribute copy written materials. So don't download/upload on p2p networks (torrents, limewire, etc.) or attempt to sell the files and you will be fine.

The legal issues of burning and re-ripping is probably a little hazy.

However, stripping the DRM from a file is blatantly 100% illegal for the same reason stripping the DRM from a DVD is illegal. It is specifically made illegal by the DMCA. Removing or defeating an electronic copy-protection mechanism is a black-letter violation of the DMCA. There's no discussion or vagueness to this.

[Duane]

However, stripping the DRM from a file is blatantly 100% illegal for the same reason stripping the DRM from a DVD is illegal. It is specifically made illegal by the DMCA. Removing or defeating an electronic copy-protection mechanism is a black-letter violation of the DMCA. There's no discussion or vagueness to this.

Sure there is, doesn't fair-use laws make removing DRM blurred. The only people you ever hear about going to court are ones who are distributing the copy written materials. Soon as you pay for that file, its yours and as far as I understand fair use laws allow you to do whatever you want with it as long as it stays with you.

At least thats my take, I'm not a lawyer and from what I have seen, these type cases are very dependent upon how educated on the subject the Judge is. But as long as you're not pirating, distributing or making $$ off it and only removing DRM to transfer to another device that you own then I really don't think you have much to worry about.

[jonnythan]

However, stripping the DRM from a file is blatantly 100% illegal for the same reason stripping the DRM from a DVD is illegal. It is specifically made illegal by the DMCA. Removing or defeating an electronic copy-protection mechanism is a black-letter violation of the DMCA. There's no discussion or vagueness to this.

Sure there is, doesn't fair-use laws make removing DRM blurred. The only people you ever hear about going to court are ones who are distributing the copy written materials. Soon as you pay for that file, its yours and as far as I understand fair use laws allow you to do whatever you want with it as long as it stays with you.

At least thats my take, I'm not a lawyer and from what I have seen, these type cases are very dependent upon how educated on the subject the Judge is. But as long as you're not pirating, distributing or making $$ off it and only removing DRM to transfer to another device that you own then I really don't think you have much to worry about.

Read the provisions of the DMCA. It's cut and dry, black and white. Copyright lawyers and lawmakers have spoken extensively about it. There's no discussion.

You're talking about copying, distributing, downloading, etc copyrighted works. There is a lot of legal gray area there, absolutely. However, there is *no* legal gray area in the matter of circumventing copy-protection schemes such as FairPlay, CSS, AACS, etc. They are by-the-book illegal.

[Duane]

Well, damn the man then!

I guess the only legal option then is to buy cheap blank cd's in bulk and burn/re-rip the songs. Then you can transfer it to your creative zen or whatever.



In other news, I just saw on slashdotthat the RIAA dropped the case with the disable mom and her 10yo kid.

[Skier]

jonnythan has it right: burning and re-ripping tracks is a violation of the DMCA. It doesn't matter if it's for your personal use. The DMCA explicitly tramples on your rights of fair use.

That said, chances of them catching you are fairly low...