NEW YORK (Billboard) -- Major labels Sony BMG and EMI are releasing more and more new CDs that block fans from dragging their tunes to iPods. Now, in the most bizarre turn yet in the record industry's piracy struggles, stars Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters and Switchfoot -- and even Sony BMG, when the label gets complaints -- are telling fans how they can beat the system. (http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/ptech/10/04/music.copy.reut/index.html)

Just to clarify if you don't have DRM software installed this is a non-issue right?

I'm not really sure what type of DRM this is, but if it's the same as they've been using, it's a program that gets secretly and automatically installed on your PC when you insert the disk and have the AutoPlay feature enabled (which is the default). You can kill AutoPlay by holding down the Shift key when inserting a CD, but you're bound to slip up sooner or later. I just did last night actually but thankfully, the CD I inserted did not have DRM.

So the mp3 player has reinvigorated the portable music player market and likely helped drive sales of music (just look at iTunes).

Now, the music companies, idiots that they are, get a bright idea to not let their customers transfer music to the hottest/hippest music related device to come along in quite a few years.

This type of heavy-handedness keeps consumers from swapping back to legitimate sources of music because of the potential incompatability and additional hoops that may need to be jumped through just to listen to music on the go.

The RIAA has their heads so far up their :o that they are ruining their own industry.

Of course the artists want to tell people how to circumvent these heavy handed technology's: they got screwed by the record companies long before mp3's were around & will continue to do so.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a cartoon video and other information that provide an introduction to the various ways that the entertainment industry is trying to eradicate your personal rights when using digital technology. Its a U.S. site, but the same initiatives are being pursued with Canadian government ministers:

http://www.eff.org/corrupt/

If you haven't thought about Digital Rights Management in music, video, TV, radio, and other digital technologies yet, now is the time to get informed about the corporate assault on your personal rights under a variety of well established fields of law.

EFF are doing great things. I am a recurring member. I encourage anyone here to consider either one-time or recurring donations to help keep them going. A lot of their issues directly apply to DHC readers, such as fighting the broadcast flag, the analog downscaling issue, and fair use with regards to being able to record and view content. Along with a lot of other bigger issues and defending freedom in general.

Hi,

Is there a law here in Canada that prohibits audio/video recording?

Thanks,

There are a variety of copyright laws and DRM (digital rights management). You need to be more specific in your question.

Most laws can be summarized in that you can make a copy of an original, however, you may not make a copy of a copy.

Analogue and digital audio/video are also "protected" differently.

What is it specifically that you wish to record, on which device? For example, some devices are "deemed safe" (integrated DVRs) while others (typically computers) are deemed less safe.

Do you mean by cctv? if so YES from what I understand you need to post a sign in a visable location stating that recording devices are used.
Same goes for phone calls, if you record a conversation or intend to you MUST inform the caller that you will/may be recording the conversation.
We recently upgraded our phone system at the office and were out right WARNED about using call recording so we decided to completly disable the feature on the phone system. I can try to find the actuall laws for you when I get a chance. im pretty sure its under the Privacy of information act
http://www.privcom.gc.ca/legislation/02_06_01_e.asp

for phone calls see the follwing guide
http://www.callcorder.com/phone-recording-law-canada.htm

57, sorry for not being clear on my question, as ctown6412 has mentioned I meant cctv or surveillance.

ctown6412, thanks for your reply.

Do you mean by cctv? if so YES from what I understand you need to post a sign in a visable location stating that recording devices are used.
Same goes for phone calls, if you record a conversation or intend to you MUST inform the caller that you will/may be recording the conversation.
We recently upgraded our phone system at the office and were out right WARNED about using call recording so we decided to completly disable the feature on the phone system. I can try to find the actuall laws for you when I get a chance. im pretty sure its under the Privacy of information act
http://www.privcom.gc.ca/legislation/02_06_01_e.asp

for phone calls see the follwing guide
http://www.callcorder.com/phone-recording-law-canada.htm

Does this apply to private properties like backyards?

Actually, if it is for security purposes, you do not necessarily have to post any warnings. For example, if an employer is consistently losing inventory from a warehouse he or she has the clear right to surreptitiously surveil the warehouse floor. Likewise any employer who has a reasonable basis to believe that cash is going missing has the right to place surveillance over a cash register or petty cash box without informing anyone. The caveat is that the surveillance cannot target a specific employee under these circumstances.

Further, insurance companies may place surveillance on claimants, defendants in personal injury claims may hire private investigators to videotape plaintiffs, and employers may do the same with employees who are suspected of abusing sick leave without notifying the subject of the surveillance. The last situation is defendable under employment law as long as the employer has a reasonable basis to believe the fraud is taking place and there is no reasonable alternative to obtain evidence.

All of the above situations have been upheld by courts and/or administrative tribunals as being reasonable measures that do not unreasonably unfringe on an individual's right to privacy.

Adoption of Microsoft's Vista Operating System is going to happen no matter what, but the goal of these personal freedoms activists is to publicize the privacy and freedom issues in the Vista OS that Microsoft, the MPAA, the RIAA, and all those other industry groups don't want to talk about or reveal to you.BadVista.org: FSF launches campaign against Microsoft Vista

Boston, MA—December 15, 2006—The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today launched BadVista.org, a campaign with a twofold mission of exposing the harms inflicted on computer users by the new Microsoft Windows Vista and promoting free software alternatives that respect users' security and privacy rights.

“Vista is an upsell masquerading as an upgrade. It is an overall regression when you look at the most important aspect of owning and using a computer: your control over what it does. Obviously MS Windows is already proprietary and very restrictive, and well worth rejecting. But the new 'features' in Vista are a Trojan Horse to smuggle in even more restrictions. We'll be focusing attention on detailing how they work, how to resist them, and why people should care”, said FSF program administrator John Sullivan.http://badvista.fsf.org/

Goodbye VHS, farewell fair use

American Public Media Marketplace
Tuesday, December 19, 2006

As VHS tapes and VCRs head the way of Betamax and phonographs, commentator Bill Hammack warns that the right to fair use is in danger of disappearing right along with them.http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/12/19/AM200612192.html

This is an American audio and text commentary on the effect of Digital Rights Management on personal freedoms, but it applies to Canadians too since the laws taking away our fair use rights are being enacted globally.

For those interested, thread on the topic...

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=44045

oh god. That's called people with too much time on their hands. They must be short on KY or something...

My only comment.

Lotus 123
WordPerfect
Netscape Navigator
CP/M

Microsoft hasn't been perfect but they are on 90% of all PC's worldwide because they've done a great job.

To quote an old saying "Any jackass can kick down a barn but it takes a carpenter to build one". It's a shame that FSF would rather tear down MS than spend the time to make software people actually want to use.

I think you've confused criticism of the new OS's infringements on personal freedoms and privacy, which the FSF clearly identifies and opposes in that website, with criticism of Microsoft in general.

I've changed the title of the thread to be clearer about their cause.

OK I read the article but if they want to reach the average Joe they need to actually say what it is we should all be fearing. I mean concrete examples. Concepts are not enough.

I still don't understand how this will be different than XP.

BadVista.org is a work in progress:...the new 'features' in Vista are a Trojan Horse to smuggle in even more restrictions. We'll be focusing attention on detailing how they work, how to resist them, and why people should care”