You got to wonder how these discussions start and end in the offices of the RIAA and Entertainment companies. Now the RIAA and Universal Music Group is saying that tossing a promotional CD (the kind distributed to music reviewers, radio stations, and industry insiders) into the trash is "unauthorized distribution."
The reasoning is that the statement "promotional use only" stamped on a label lets them own the CD for eternity. Of course as the EFF points out, that goes against a pesky little passage about US copyright called First Use. But then why let the law stand in the way of making ridiculous claims.
But come to think of it, I'd like to see this decided in UMG's favor. I mean the RIAA lawyers on the case put out enough trash, I'd like to see them go dumpster diving.
Via the Electronic Frontier Foundation and TechDirt
