Bear Flag Republic Radio Weblog

Another Reason Not to Buy CDs.

Will Your CD Player Tell on You?

"A company by the name of Bandlink is providing technology to record companies that allows a cd played in a personal computer to contact their server and relate statistics such as what track you're listening to and when you're listening to them. This information is then compiled into customizable reports that allow the record company to develop 'User Profiles'. There are benefits listed for the consumer such as cd-specific chatrooms, concert information, etc but the question remains: What's your price for privacy? The only indication that the cd you're purchasing is Bandlink "enabled/disabled" is a small logo on the packaging. There is no mention of a opt in/opt out agreement when the cd is inserted on the website and none was displayed in a personal demonstration.

Favorite quote from their website: 'Virtually any information you want to know about your fan or the quality of your release can be obtained.' " [Slashdot]

As if there aren't enough reasons out there to stop buying CDs (the economy, inferior product, high prices, products that won't play in some computers), the music industry wants to give us one more. I didn't think they had any feet in which to shoot themselves yet again.

[The Shifted Librarian]
comments < 8:09:45 PM        >

Not Quite the Amends I Was Looking for.

I just filled out my Settlement Fund claim against the music industry for their price fixing during the last century. You can fill one out, too, if you purchased pre-recorded music between 1995 and 2000. Depending on how many people submit claims, you'll get either $20 (fewer people), $5 (lots more people), or $0 (too many people making the claim under $5 for each person). You have to fill out the form by March 3, 2003.

I probably bought something like 500 CDs during those five years, so even if the record companies price fixed their products by $1 extra, that's $500 I'm out. And let's be honest - that $1 is being stupidly generous. So now I'll get maybe $20. Sure...that sounds fair.

[The Shifted Librarian]
comments < 8:09:20 PM        >

NY Times: "Al Gore has decided against running for president in 2004, according to associates of Mr. Gore.
Mr. Gore will announce his decision in an interview on 60 Minutes tonight, according to those sources." [Scripting News]
comments < 4:44:25 PM        >

12/15/97: Real-World XML. "Everyone talks in hushed tones about XML.
Shhh. It's exciting! But what does it do?" [Scripting News]
comments < 4:43:49 PM        >