THE CD system is now 20 years old, so most of the patents owned by its
inventor, Philips, have run out. That’s why the record companies now feel free
to release what have become known as “dysfunctional” copy-protected CDs. As well
as preventing you making copies of tracks you thought you owned, these discs
have the unhappy knack of not playing properly, if at all, on some players.
Philips still controls the “CD” trademark, and has talked vaguely about
banning its use on dysfunctional discs. But if push comes to shove, the record
companies can simply leave the name off,…
