Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has advised users to 'buy a CD and rip it'
Bill Gates slams DRM systems
/v3-uk/news/2007139/bill-gates-slams-drm-systems
18 Dec 2006, Iain Thomson , V3
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has stated that there are "huge problems" with current digital rights management (DRM) systems, and has advised that the best strategy is just to "buy a CD and rip it", an act which is illegal under UK law.
Speaking at a conference in Seattle, Gates was scathing about current DRM practices, especially those that tried to limit the number of devices on which music and video could be played.
Blogger Steve Rubel quoted Gates in his Micro Persuasion blog as saying: "DRM is not where it should be.
"At the end of the day, incentive systems [for artists] make a difference, but we don't have the right thing here in terms of simplicity or interoperability."
Another blogger, Michael Arrington from Techcrunch, also reported the conversation with Gates, quoting the Microsoft boss as saying: "People should just buy a CD and rip it. You are legal then."
Sadly such practices are not legal in the UK, where ripping CDs is technically illegal. Record companies, however, have said informally that they will not be trying to prosecute people for doing so.
But CD ripping may also become illegal in the US. The RIAA has already called for the practice to be outlawed in submissions to the US government.
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Do you agree?
Bill Gates' real problem
Article says: Bill Gates has stated that there are "huge problems" with current digital rights management (DRM) systems.
Bill Gates' real problem with DRM is that Microsoft isn't in control of it. He's distracting everyone with this smoke while Microsoft is working behind the scenes to overtake iTunes with Zune.
Posted by HG, 19 Dec 2006
Zune v. Zoom
It is no surprise that Gates, who is feeling a little prodding in the back of his slacks, courtesy of UMG, would take this tack. Let's be real: MS lacks a viable DRM strategy, a player that has broad appeal, and a store that has any hope of making money in the foreseeable future. Apple's DRM manages to work well enough that the iTunes store sells tons of songs. Is there a connection here?
Posted by Andrew Purvis, 19 Dec 2006
Since when has ripping CDs illegal?
"buy a CD and rip it" the quote says, not illegally downloading a rip off the internet. It is perfectly legal to rip CDs you own anywhere in the world.
Posted by The_Intr0spector, 07 Apr 2008