October 09, 2006

The crime: Playing iTunes on devices not named iPod | CNET News.com

Link: The crime: Playing iTunes on devices not named iPod | CNET News.com.

Giving new meaning to "performance art":

It took more than 10 minutes to persuade the Paris police station's highest-ranking officer that a crime might have taken place, but that did not deter Jerome Martinez and his two companions.

After all, the three had marched halfway across the Latin Quarter one evening in late September, accompanied by about 40 fellow advocates, waving banners and handing out parking-ticket-style leaflets that claimed they had committed a number of offenses.

Among their crimes was listening to a song purchased from iTunes on a device not made by Apple Computer. The group, StopDRM, largely made up of young computer enthusiasts, was protesting the growing number of subtle restrictions used to limit the use of legally purchased songs and videos.

... Greeted at the police station by almost as many armed riot police officers as there were protesters, they explained their infractions to passers-by.

"Not only did I not use an iPod to listen to an iTunes song, but I transferred the film 'Blade Runner' onto my hand-held movie player," Martinez, 28, said. "I am willing to face the consequences of what they consider an offense."

By his own calculation, Martinez could face a fine of as much as 41,250 euros, or about $52,000, and six months in prison.

Martinez patiently laid out the case he built against himself, offering details about his infractions, which included switching music from one format to another and transferring the DVDs to different players.

...Martinez figured he could face fines of 3,750 euros ($4,663) for each transfer and 30,000 euros ($37,809) plus as much as to six months in prison for telling others how to do the same thing.

Posted by Anupam Chander on October 9, 2006 at 08:18 PM in Digitization | Permalink