Eminent Domain

I saw this linked on Hit and Run and thought it was pretty interesting. Coldplay's new CD comes with a lot of rules and restrictions. The CD can't be burnt onto a CD-R or ripped to a hard drive and converted to MP3 files. The CD might not play in some computers, DVD players, car stereos, or personal CD players. From the post...

Of course, these rules are only visible after you've paid for the CD and brought it home, and as the disc's rules say, "Except for manufacturing problems, we do not accept product exchange, return or refund," so if you don't like the rules, that's tough.

Julian Sanchez of Hit and Run points out that there is a small print warning on the back of the CD case...

I do see some very tiny print hinting at a fraction of the limitations suggested on the insert. Though contra what's printed there, the rear cover seems to suggest that the disc will work with Macs, and never really says in so many words that you can't use the thing with your iPod at all.

This is just getting insane. I own about 200 CDs. Most of them never leave their cases, because I have them ripped onto my hard drive. It's just more convenient for me to listen to them as MP3s. I don't want to change CDs whenever I want to listen to a different artist or a different album. Also, I use my iPod as my sole source of portable music. I don't even have a portable CD player anymore. If I bought this Coldplay CD without knowing all of this, I would be furious. Modern music consumption is increasing based on MP3 technology, computers, and portability. Record companies are driving people further away from the CD format by placing these restrictions on the discs.

Personally, I think anything that keeps people from playing Coldplay CDs is a good thing, but that's a matter of opinion. But if you are a Coldplay fan and don't like these wonderful restrictions, don't buy the CD.