Using special computer programs, users can extract the audio from the CD and re-encode it into MP3 format, making it about one tenth of the original file size with only minimal loss in quality. These files can also be decoded using computers which have CD-ROM drives. These discs contain high quality audio data files which can be decoded by any standard Audio CD player. They are optical non-recordable media compatible with over 85 percent of the computers in use in homes across America as well as portable and home stereos and automobile stereo systems. How does Apple's announcement affect you? What are the benefits? Are there drawbacks?Īudio CD's are the standard for commercial music distribution. A judge ruled that the RIAA has the right to subpoena this person's name, upholding a portion of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) which requires Internet service providers to turn over the names of copyright violators.Īs these battles rage in America's courts, America's public is making it's own decisions. regarding Verizon's resistance to reveal the identity of a person who used their DSL service to download hundreds of MP3s. The RIAA is also in ongoing litigation against Verizon Internet Services, Inc. As of this writing, the RIAA is appealing the case. They state that file swapping services of this kind have no more responsibility for copyright infringement than do VCR manufacturers who's hardware is used to copy rented films. Federal judges recently ruled against the RIAA in this case. on the grounds that they are liable for illegal file trading done on their respective networks.

They successfully shut down Napster, and their cross-hairs are currently set on Grokster Ltd.

The Recording Artists Industry of America (RIAA) has spent the last several years battling with many of the companies who promote file swapping. The audio quality is close to that found on CD, and a variety of portable players can use them to play back without skipping or degradation. Songs are an average of 3 to 5 Megabytes and take about 15 minutes to download on a 56K modem. Napster, Kazaa, Limewire, Morpheus, Acquisition) and download them in the popular MP3 format.

Until now, the fastest way to obtain your favorite songs online has been to log onto various file swapping services (i.e. It's called Apple Music, and it's available today. On ApApple announced an online music service which they hope will bring an end to the controversy of online music downloading and the problems with Digital Rights Management (DRM). Apple's Answer to the Digital Music Divide

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