Buying Used and Pirating...

Heres the be-all, end-all with used material: Unless the material is "hole-punched" (which is when a distributor or store punches a hole through the back of the CD cover, usually on the UPC - to mark it as destroyed, promotional mailing, etc), you should never feel guilty buying used. It means that someone purchased it full price at one point and simply no longer wants it, the label already got their money for it.

As for bootlegging, well, I'm the cliche on that subject, so I won't repeat myself.

Originally Posted by YOU MAD

I'm not going to go into the pages long debate of the fallacy that DRM protects artists and developers.

Anyone who says that is an idiot. It protects the IP for the music label. (I disagree with DRM myself.)

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by YOU MAD

Best example of the hilarious notions of IP and music labels would be Prince.

I don't know about all that. IP is important because theres more people than just the musical artist being paid - you have the pressing factory and the people who design the covers and a ton of uncredited people down the line.

I do think, however, that the industry is far too stiff about how to go about protecting their IP to remain how they are. Things will change drastically in the next five years or so because they have to if they want to keep taking our money.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by YOU MAD

You also have contracts that secure all IP for the label so the artist cannot record without their specific permission

I think thats a fair contract though - in that if you're dumb enough to sign it, you deserve what you get - which is probably a fucking giant ass-fuck forward of cash in some cases or at least a contract for X number of albums.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by YOU MAD

It's funny how you advocate non-piracy because of the welfare of artists, yet seem to think only morons can't read fine print.

Thats because the artists *I'm* backing tend to have the better part of a decade getting a higher education. I can't speak for what passes for the lowly rock band or rap artist that exists today.

How ya doing, buddy?