Another interesting article on a related subject (the SSSCA):

http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,49201,00.html

Academics and free-speech groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation have savaged the SSSCA. The EFF even has a sample letter to send Congress that argues it will stifle technology and thwart fair use rights.

Disney's Padden wasn't buying it. "There is no right to fair use," Padden said at the event. "Fair use is a defense against infringement." (emphasis mine)

So according to Padden, consumers have no right to fair use at all! :o [begin sarcasm]If you claim that you have the fair use right to rip a CD to MP3 for your own personal use, you're just trying to defend your infringing actions.[end sarcasm]



EDIT: Just found another Wired article that might explain why Universal is going this route (and it's not piracy):

http://www.wired.com/news/mp3/0,1285,49188,00.html

On Tuesday, Universal Music Group becomes the first label to sell copy-protected CDs in the United States with the release of its soundtrack Fast & Furious -- More Music. This comes at a time when the recording industry is asking consumers to pay for music that can only be listened to on the PC.

The newly released CD will keep people from listening to their music on the computer, game consoles and other digital devices. If they wanted to go through the major labels to buy the same music for their computer, the only way would be to sign up for Pressplay, one of the major label subscription services, when it launches later this month.

So their plan is "You buy this CD to only play in CD players. Want to play it on your computer? Well, pay for it again and we'll give you it in a 'computer-only' format." (In other words, pay twice for the same CD.)