Why is it that the largest music group, with the most at risk. DOESN’T employ
copy protection on its CDs while the company that had an almost equal market
share upon merger but has slipped badly since does?

It’s kind of like playing the New York Yankees with ankle weights.  It’s
gross mismanagement.

I want to hear Mitch Bainwol explain away the rootkit debacle the same way
his buddies in the Republican administration explain away Plamegate and the
indictment of Libby.  But the rootkit deal is worse, since we’ve already got
PROOF!  Sony BMG willingly, with aforethought, placed cloaked software deep inside
the operating system of millions of Windows computers without informing those
affected.  Oh, they said there was some kind of verbiage in the license, but
does every music fan now have to be a LAWYER?  And what’s up with the license
anyway?  God, if Sony BMG had its way every RADIO would come with a license, to
let listeners know that they can’t use what’s coming over the airways
willy-nilly.

But back to the point.  Why is it that Universal knows how to play the game
and nobody else does.  Why is it Universal knows it’s about TEAMWORK not
infighting.  Why is it that Universal knows the best way to put up good numbers is
to sign good acts and promote them well?  Sony BMG is like the old Soviet
Union.  Countries united against their will with old leaders working behind the
scenes to topple their enemies.  The operation is run with an eye to the bottom
line, with employees let go and not replaced, the team ever slimmer, not
realizing that it takes a full suite of people to sign and break acts!  Warner’s not
too much better.  But the Civil War is the model.  Where carpetbaggers
invaded and gave the residents of the south no respect.  God, at least give EMI
credit for picking up Jason Flom, they now have TWO music men in charge in
America, but that company is testing the waters with copy protected CDs too!  Can’t
they see this is a losing paradigm, a mistake for a company with so little
market share?  Kia and Hyundai offer MORE for your money, not LESS!

Copy protection fucks with the fan’s bond with the artist.  Which this whole
business is BUILT UPON!  Yup, make your CUSTOMERS mad at your ACTS!  This is a
good way to sell more records.

And you’re penalizing the people who DIDN’T steal.

And the copy protection does NOTHING to solve the inherent problem.  It’s not
even much of a speed bump.  You just burn and re-rip.  Not to mention all
these files are on the Internet the day of the release of the album, if not
sooner.

The megalomania of Andy Lack is staggering.  He personally thinks he can
change the mind-set of MILLIONS of consumers.  He’s ignorant of history.  He
didn’t look to other markets where copy protected CDs have been sold and ABANDONED!

It’s like Sony BMG is selling discs with the brakes on.  Imagine buying a
Cadillac that you couldn’t drive freely.  One that was always slow.  One that as
you sped up, gave you a warning and said no.  Wouldn’t you just go out and buy
a BMW or Mercedes?  Well, in this case Universal is the BMW/Mercedes.

This is a fiasco.  And someone’s got to pay.  And someone will, Andy Lack is
going to lose his job.  But if Sony BMG is smart, they’ll remove all copy
protection IMMEDIATELY!  Realizing it’s not helping them, but HURTING THEM!