Anybody know what DRM means when it comes to digital media? Digital Rights Management is basically a signature that restricts access and use of files. From my favorite, mp3's, to DVD's and others. Basically it is someone's attempt to keep a song or movie from going "viral" through the internet.

Check out this wiki on DRM
And look here for a good idea of what going viral means.

Has anyone found a site that allows me the enjoyment of actually having some of my favorite songs on my computer?

I haven't found one yet.

Most of my digital music comes from my own CD's. That isn't good enough though. MediaPlayer is always arguing about which one of my software programs has the right to do this or that. So I get harassed from big business all the blasted time. (microsoft! I know it isn't a four letter word but it'll do)

A big hassle.

Going around with google searches for "legal" mp3's and howto's to stop the windows software from bickering with the other obviously superior 3rd party rippers is driving me crazy.

What's more I find that the Recording Industry in general, meaning the record companies, have issued a strategy where they make a civil case against a group of "John Doe's" who have subscribed to an internet service provider. Then their lawyers send notices in the mail which inform a group of customers that a motion has been brought against them, but in such language the average person knows nothing about the motion, nothing about the case, no reasoning is given, and no logical response can be assembled. Then the lawyers make motions for discovery which, as I understand it, is a legal investigation in civil cases to find the facts for the case.

Yeah, you read it correctly, they have no case without the motion to discover. They only have a complaint based on vague assumptions. Get this, the record companies are suing their own customers for having access to the internet.

In August of 08 a case in Missouri which has been pending came to the attention of some defence lawyers who, praise be to God, are dead set against this strategy.

Apparently the record companies, Atlantic, BMG, Virgin Records America, Capitol Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, and UMG Recordings all gathered together against one college student to sue her for having committed copyright infringment.

To summarize the 18th point in the complaint they filed,
Her conduct is causing the Plaitiff's (Record Companies) "great and irreparable injury that cannot fully be compensated or measured in money.."

So what is a guy to do with all these irritants and sharks swimming in this water?

I have tried these and other sites to find my music.

mp3raid
music.download
airmp3
mp3fusion

(If your interested)

Sometimes I'd get what I was after. Most times I would have to run virus software after doing the downloads, and it was slow. NOT productive, NOT a good use of my time.

I am tired of the big money makers scheming on how to take more from me. They are as bad as government just in another way.

My answer?mp3instantly (again if you're interested) Thirty-five of my hardearned dollars later (easier to do than I thought) and I'm hassle free. There's movies and such also, but I've not gotten that far.