RIAA Says CD's Ripped To Your Computer Are "Unauthorized"

I've been known to go on a rant or two about the RIAA and how they go after their own customers. Well I'm going to let you add your own opinion about this latest gem from the RIAA. In the case of Atlantic vs. Howell, a couple who is being sued for sharing music on KaZaA. The RIAA says that music ripped to your hard drive (turning music into MP3's) for personal use is making an "unauthorized" copy. So any CD that you own, and have put on your computer to listen too, by the RIAA's definition is stealing. Check the statement below:

"It is undisputed that Defendant possessed unauthorized copies of Plaintiffs' copyrighted sound recordings on his computer ... Virtually all of the sound recordings on Exhibit B are in the ".mp3" format. ... Defendant admitted that he converted these sound recordings from their original format to the .mp3 format for his and his wife's use."

This should frighten everyone.

[The Brief via Gizmodo]

Chinese Pirates Account For 93% of Counterfeit CDs and DVDs in EU

Here’s an interesting list of 10 “inconvenient truths” that the IFPI released yesterday in regards to the EU’s latest figures on counterfeit products that were confiscated in 2006.

According to the reports there were 23 million phony CDs and DVDs confiscated last year and 93 percent originated in China. The music industry’s international trade group goes as far as saying that the purchase of pirated CDs supports terrorism.

I find that last one a little hard to believe, but who knows.

Read the rest after the jump.

Vista only sells 244 copies in China

Microsoft has reported that a mere 244 copies of Windows new OS Vista have been sold in China. This comes from Microsoft headquarters of the Windows Vista chief distributor in Beijing. After Microsoft spent millions of dollars in advertising in China including the 421 meter high Jin Mao tower Vista ad in Shanghai China. China has had their share of pirated software issues, and this is a classic case of the problem that has reached new levels.

China hasn't made it hard for people to get a copy of the OS, and a pirated version of Vista sells for only $1 on the streets. If Vista is selling on the streets for $1, who are the 244 who paid full price? And how are these pirates getting around Microsoft's new pirate deterrent keys?

Well, at lease they launched it on time.......oh wait!