New Used CD Sales Laws?

arakis · Post by **arakis** » Tue May 08, 2007 11:08 am

So I guess the sale of used CDs is basically being regulated out of existence in some states. The following article came off a Slashdot post today and mentions this legislation is being considered in Wisconsin. I know Ben and Jones live there along with some other forum people. What do you guys thing of this?

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20 ... bitte.html

Post by **benheck** » Tue May 08, 2007 11:43 am

This sucks, I like buying used CD's and games. Because brand new CD are a RIP OFF!

Does the average person have the ability to make a near-perfect (label and all) pirated disc? Then considering you probably only get a few bucks for it anyway, is it even worth the cost of materials?

The music industry is like a drowning man charging people to throw him a lifejacket.

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Tue May 08, 2007 12:12 pm

Since I'm going to school in Wisconsin, I think it would be appropriate to send a nice letter to the senators/representatives of WI

Something like this, perhaps...

Dear Senator/Representative ___________,

My name is ___________, and I am from Minnesota. For almost a year now, I have been going to college at __________ and really love it here in Wisconsin. In fact, I am considering living in Wisconsin permanently after I graduate. Recently, I read a story about plans to increase identification needed for the simple act of selling used compact discs.

As of right now, Wisconsin is set to have stricter identification requirements for selling used CDs than it currently does for obtaining a driver's license. Even fingerprints would be taken. Keep in mind, this is for a CD, something that has had a large secondhand market for years. For major transactions I could possibly see the need for strict identification, but selling a used CD one would be lucky to get $10 for? That sounds like overkill.

Should this bill go through, it will give the impression that the government is not so much representing the average Wisconsinite, but large corporations instead. Similar measures are in place in Florida, and used music stores are already getting out of the business there. This costs jobs to the public, and reduces the options available for purchasing music.

Thank you for your interest. This article has more information that I believe may interest you: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20 ... bitte.html.

Thank you for your time,
_______________
_______@________.edu

Post by **bicostp** » Tue May 08, 2007 1:10 pm

I guess this is to try to stop the people who buy a disc, burn a copy, and sell the original to get some of their money back.

Doesn't it seem like everything's being regulated nowadays? Here in MA we have to show 2 forms of ID just to by cold medicine because stupid kids figured out how to abuse it. We have to show ID to buy spray paint because stupid kids vandalize things. Hell I'm surprised they didn't force Radio Shack to pull all the battery holders and LEDs off the shelves after the Aqua Teen Hunger Force "bomb scare". We can't get fireworks, but the guns, ammo, and toy rocket engines all sit behind the counter at K-Mart. That's pretty screwed up. Just watch; eventually it will get to the point where you have to be cavity searched to even buy paper towels. After all, we do live in a world where anything can be made into a narcotic, turned into an IED, or used to "terrify" the masses.

loup · Post by **loup** » Tue May 08, 2007 1:24 pm

bicostp wrote:I guess this is to try to stop the people who buy a disc, burn a copy, and sell the original to get some of their money back.

The idea behind it is that it would stop criminals from stealing peoples' CDs and then selling them to places that deal in second hand CDs because CDs don't have serial numbers making them more or less untraceable.

The more likely reason is that the music industry (RIAA, etc.) doesn't like the fact that they don't make any money on music sales past the first purchase. They want to make the process so convoluted that neither the customer or store owner wants to deal with doing so.

ganonbanned · Post by **ganonbanned** » Tue May 08, 2007 3:10 pm

man, this sucks. I hope this doesnt pass.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Tue May 08, 2007 5:19 pm

I hate how liberal our government is becoming.

Sad thing is, I only buy used CD's. All my favorite artists don't release new albums.

Dr. KillGood · Post by **Dr. KillGood** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:33 pm

benheck wrote:The music industry is like a drowning man charging people to throw him a lifejacket.

That made me laugh!