Re:Okay, we need to organize something. (Score 1)

The problem with these ideas of returning the CD's is that it takes a very long time to hurt anyone but the retailers, who in the case of independent chains, are just music lovers and not conglomerates that can take the hit. Once a CD is opened, a store is usually stuck with it, and it's a real hassle to get a distributor to accept it as a return.

What might be more effective is to just say to the retailer, "Y'know, I was going to buy that new CD, but I'm not going to because it's copy-protected and I can't play it." The retailers are on the phone with their distributors a couple of times a week, and believe me, THAT information will get up the distribution chain fast. Everyone will want to know why they're not selling the usual quantities of the week's biggest release.

If you buy it and return it, you've already sent money going up the distribution chain, and this whole controversy may NEVER reach the desk of the bigwigs at Universal in a way that matters to them. Especially if distributors or one-stops refuse to allow the retailers to return the open discs.

If a retailer orders 100 copies of the new Pearl Jam CD and doesn't sell it, at least they can get their money back. If they keep getting back open CDs, it could very well put them out of business.