Consumer group sues over copy-protected CDs
- — 07 January, 2004 08:17
The Belgian consumer group Test-Aankoop is suing the world's four biggest music companies, accusing them of unfairly using copy protection technology to keep consumers from fully using their legally bought CDs.
The group announced Monday that it is suing Universal Music Group Inc., EMI Group PLC, BMG Music Inc. (owned by Bertelsmann AG) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. in a Brussels court in an effort to protect a user's right to play their CDs on computers and in car stereos as well as make back-up copies of their legally bought CDs.
Representatives from Test-Aankoop, Universal Music, EMI, BMG and Sony Music could not be immediately reached for comment.
The large music labels have increasingly been incorporating copy-protection technology in CDs, such as Sony's key2audio technology, as a way to deter digital piracy. After having received "several hundred" complaints from consumers, Test-Aankoop said it is "demanding a change in the attitude of the big CD firms because copying a CD for personal use is not a crime."
