Still draconian…

I was really hoping that the new Napster would maybe lean a little more to the LESS restrictive side of things, but it sure doesn’t seem like that’s the case. Check this out:

A “Purchased Track” is a Track that you may (1) save to your hard drive and play back at any time, (2) burn to a CD and/or (3) transfer to a compatible portable device. Any security technology that is provided with a Purchased Track is an inseparable part of it. If you have Purchased Tracks, it is your responsibility not to lose, destroy or damage them. Napster shall have no liability to you in the event of any such loss, destruction, or damage.

You may burn each Purchased Track to a CD up to five times as part of any particular playlist of songs. A “playlist” is a discrete group of Purchased Tracks that are arranged together in a particular order. Once you have burned a Purchased Track to a CD, you agree not to copy, distribute, or transfer the track from that CD to any other media or device.

Dammit. When I purchase a music track, I want it to be MINE. I want it to be easy to play it in my car, or on my computer, or on an iPod or similar device.  Why can you only burn a track 5 times?  Why make that limitation.  Maybe I want to make several mix CD’s and there is a song I’d like on all of them. When I hit 5 it should just die stop allowing me to burn it? I don’t get the music industry AT ALL.

And since it’s legal to record music off of the radio you don’t own, AND it’s legal to copy a CD or make a mix CD for a friend, then why all of a sudden is it illegal in the digital world? I know that due to the internet you can share with millions of “friends” at once, but I really don’t believe this is hurting the industry.

Last year the record industry released fewer titles (less music to sell) and had raised prices, all while in a recession. BUT, according to them, their numbers are down solely due to illegal music sharing. I don’t buy it. And I won’t buy their on-line services…