Buying CDs = Stealing Music?

I was completely surprised when I learned last week that copying music I owned was actually stealing music. Jennifer Pariser, the head of litigation for Sony BMG, during her testimony on October 2nd, 2007 said "When an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song." and then that making "a copy" of a purchased song was just "a nice way of saying 'steals just one copy'". First I thought I misunderstood something, so I kept on reading...

So for all my life I have been purchasing CDs just to learn when I rip one to my iPod, I am stealing? Seems like a good reason to stop buying CDs at all. I do not remember when I listened to the physical CD I had bought. I buy them, rip to the iPod and put back on the shelf. Listening to a CD is so inconvenient these days... I think not many people do it the way it was originally designed. But if this is a crime, then fine, I will not buy a CD anymore. At least not a "legal" one. In her testimony Pariser noted that Sony BMG was half the size now as it had been in 2000, thanks to piracy. I think with leaders like the current chief lawyer Sony BMG will soon be half the size as it is now. Instead of focusing on promoting clear nonsense, they should finally accept the world is moving ahead and look for their new role in the digital and probably virtual reality.

I won't be surprised to learn next week I need to buy a second copy of a CD to listen to a music while playing Second Life... And I don't think anybody will treat these guys seriously... Their mission should be to represent the interests of the artists and I don't think they fulfill that mission anymore...