ClumsyMonkey.net

So I bought an iPod not to long ago and I've been thinking about a "warning" message that came with it and was displayed quite prominantly. It basically told you not to steal music. When I bought my car, it didn't come with a note warning you not to steal gas. When I bought my guitar, no one ever told me not to steal strings. When I bought a pair of shoes, the salesperson wasn't carrying a sign saying "be sure you PAY for those socks!" Do you get my point? I felt like it was being assumed that I was a criminal because I bought an iPod and to make it worse, this assumtion was coming from the company that I just paid money to (yes, that's right, I didn't steal the iPod!)

What are everyone's thoughts on this? I'm not looking for another debate over the legality/morality of downloading and wheather you d/l instead of buying or if you do it to find out if you want to buy, etc... I'm just wondering if anyone else thinks that this message is strange, even rude.

:::troy:::

It's protection for Apple more than anything else. It's widely known that MP3 players are usually (or at least often) used to listen to downloaded ("stolen") music. To ensure that Apple isn't accused of perpetuating this legal issue, they stick that message on their packaging. That way they can say that they clearly stated that their product was to be used legally (and preferably with music bought off Apple's iTunes service).

what he said.

I understand that Apple doesn't want to be responsible for people using their product in an illegal manner. However, I don't see how they would be held responsible for someone else's actions. If the fact is that they would be responsible, why are the other examples I brought up so absurd sounding. For example...I drive a Saturn. If I was to fill up my gas tank and drive away without paying, Saturn wouldn't be held responsible for my theft...I would. What's the difference with music?

:::troy:::

bovine wrote:For example...I drive a Saturn. If I was to fill up my gas tank and drive away without paying, Saturn wouldn't be held responsible for my theft...I would. What's the difference with music?

:::troy:::

Exactly.

Back a long time ago, if I remember correctly, there was a push to have VCR's banned or some kind of crap like that, because basically they're used to copy a ton of copyrighted material from TV broadcasts or tapes. And it was decided that companies who made and sold VCR's weren't doing anything wrong. The same goes for copying machines, computers, scanners, etc.

I already didn't like iPods . . . does this warning message have a prompt or something and require attention from the user? That'd be one more big knock against them in my opinion.

I never got a warning with my iPod, so I'll continue to steal music, gas, guitar strings and socks. And, maybe a speedo!

go speedo!

anyways.. in this case i think its more along the lines they want to "sell" itunes more than anything else

I already didn't like iPods . . . does this warning message have a prompt or something and require attention from the user? That'd be one more big knock against them in my opinion.

No, it was just a paper "flyer" that they put right in front of all the instruction manuals and such. I just thought it was strange. That's interesting what you said about people wanting to ban VCRs, I definately see a connection!

:::troy:::

Is this really a problem? When you buy a powertool there is always a warning label with some dude getting his head chopped off. Do you really intend to use the tool for that purpose? Detergents tell you not to drink them. Every movie today displays a copyright notice before the movie starts. Is this really such a new concept? I bet if you opened the manual to your car you would find several warnings. Perhaps not to steal gas but many others. In fact at the gas station, there is a warning not to smoke around the pumps. The flyer was simply a warning on how NOT to use the iPod which I'm sure you promptly discarded. So what is the big deal?

My MP3 player never once mentioned where the files you are using came from. They just said how to use it. But MPIO doesn't have its own downloading store either.

I don't think its that strange with downloading being such a hot topic for so long. I would assume that apple is just trying to advertise. But then again about 6 months back every cd I bought had some 'Thank you for buying music' flyer thing inside. I guess its no different then that.

I love those, the 'Keep the Beat' Flyers. they make me feel special.

I never got one of those

Maybe you're not special.

one drunken night last semester, me and a friend were watching pbs or something similar, and they were doing a documentary on a derby race car demolition driver. his nickname was speedo and he would give out hats and shirts with the speedo trademarked logo on them. it was funny, i mean this guy was quite a character, and his son was like in this speed metal/punk, awful band. he had on a girl's shirt and he later took it off during his show and on his body was electrical tape.

most.
random.
shit
on
tv
eva.

but man it was fucking funny. we were rooting for speedo. but his wife left him, and he shacked up with this other woman. good for speedo.

best.story.ever.

it should have totally won for best documentary......but no, some other bastard's documentary had to win.

i wanna know the name of that documentary, i wanna see it again, if not for good olde times sake, but to cheer for speedo once more.

speedo clearly rules

in fact if i ever find a picture of speedo, he'll be my next avatar.

good plan

*begins hunt*