How do you discard CDs containing copyrighted material?

[Rim]

I was looking around my bedroom studio and decided I needed to clean up a bit. I have a bunch of audio CDs in different stages of mixing (for checking the mix) that I really don't need to keep anymore. I was just gonna throw them out when I realized some of them are copyrighted material. None of my "clients" are big time or anything like that, but many have copyrighted their original material. Do you folks in the professional audio world worry about that or do you just throw it in the trash? I know there are machines that are made specifically to destroy CDs but I have no money to put in that. If it's something I should do, what's the cheapest, easiest way? Can I take a Brillo pad and just mark up the silver side pretty good? Is there a better way? I broke a CD by hand (in my hand) one time and I realised that is not a good way to do it - those things shatter!

[bearded yeti]

1) submerge them in water. 2) microwave on high for 8 minutes. this should do the trick! ;)

[Gtoledo3]

If you go with the brillo pad, do it on the label side. It's pretty easy to snap them in half though.

[pumpcat]

You can easily bend them without actually breaking them. As soon as the plastic creases, it's useless. Another option is to mark it with a Sharpie or some other permanent marker.

[Rim]

C'mon now, Ashley, I'm serious. If you weren't so cute, I'd give you a spanking. :D

[Rog]

Put them in a plastic bag and then snap them.

[Anderton]

A blowtorch is more fun, and very effective.

[Ultravibe]

Poo on them. At least, do it if the musical material on them warrants that. Or if the people you recorded deserved to have that done to them. Kind of a sick satisfaction one might get...

[Rim]

LOL - Bendem, markem, nukem, torchem, shitonem, put it in a Ziploc. I guess that WOULD work. Ultravibe, you are a sicko! :thu: Hmmm, if I ever record in your studio, I better make sure I bring my "A" game. :) I like your "no BS" attitude on your web site!

[Audiobotica]

Microwave one at a time for about 2-6 seconds. Voila, your copyrighted material is gone and you have a unique coaster with a fascinating crackle pattern! Don't leave in too long or you'll blow up your microwave! Yours in Music, Ben Fury

[rog951]

I've got one word for you: "PULL!" :thu:

[Salyphus]

Hmm, a good question without any definitive answers eh? I guess not that many people have thought of this before, or perhaps they buy those CD shredder things? More ideas of questionable value off the top of my head: You could use CDRW for your test mixes and keep reusing the same CD? Maybe put a bunch of them in a bag, lay it on the ground or a hard concrete floor and pound on it a bit with a hammer? Send them to AOL? :D

[Rim]

Originally posted by Sal Monella: [b]You could use CDRW for your test mixes and keep reusing the same CD?[/b] Good idea but I like playing my mixes in my car and boom box which don't accept CDRW. [b]Maybe put a bunch of them in a bag, lay it on the ground or a hard concrete floor and pound on it a bit with a hammer?[/b] I like the bag idea. [b]Send them to AOL? :D [/b] I'm afraid they'd send it all back to me with 10,000 free hours!

[Salyphus]

BTW, I'm pretty sure that throwing the CDs away doesn't compromise the validity of the copyright in any way, in case you were worried about that.

[jeffbayson]

[quote]Originally posted by Sal Monella: [b] Send them to AOL? [/b][/quote]I work for AOL. No joke. We will assume full ownership of any or all materials, and any intellectual property contained therein, delivered to us willfully via post. That includes sound recordings, songs, and dripping-blood-font band name logos printed on the CDs. We reserve the right to collect royalties from the sale of this property. Furthermore, Sal, I'm personally sending you a few more pop-ups, just to prove my absolute power. We own you! BRU HA HA HA HA HA!!!! :freak:

[where02190]

[quote]Originally posted by Sal Monella: [b]BTW, I'm pretty sure that throwing the CDs away doesn't compromise the validity of the copyright in any way, in case you were worried about that.[/b][/quote]It does not, however I always grab the nearest sharp object and put a healthy scratch across the playing surface. End of CD.

[Salyphus]

[quote]Originally posted by eljefe: [b]I work for AOL. No joke. We will assume full ownership of any or all materials, and any intellectual property contained therein, delivered to us willfully via post. That includes sound recordings, songs, and dripping-blood-font band name logos printed on the CDs. We reserve the right to collect royalties from the sale of this property.[/b][/quote]What a coincidence, I have the exact same policy! Which means that I own AOL. Hey buddy, you're working for me now! [quote][b] Furthermore, Sal, I'm personally sending you a few more pop-ups, just to prove my absolute power. We own you! BRU HA HA HA HA HA!!!! :freak: [/b][/quote]Heh heh heh. Fortunately I am using Mozilla which blocks your nasty popups. Er, who owns that company again? :D

[Anifa]

May I suggest contacting the original artist to see if they might be interested in recovering the works to keep in their own possession; there may be some sentimental value in them. They may even be willing to pay a few bucks for them..... Geeeeezzzzzz, just think about those old masters that were kept in the closet that came out after Elvis died. Who knows, someone may yet come out of a closet to attain great success and you might be sitting on a gold mine.

[Rim]

[quote]Originally posted by Sal Monella: [b]BTW, I'm pretty sure that throwing the CDs away doesn't compromise the validity of the copyright in any way, in case you were worried about that.[/b][/quote]I wasn't worried about the validity of the copyright. I was worried about unintentionally releasing bootleg copies of copyrighted material. Just because I record it doesn't mean I have the right to distribute it - free or otherwise. You pros I know are more experienced and have better monitors and stuff so perhaps you don't make so many work-in-progress CDs. I'm still learning so with each song, it's not uncommon for me to burn 10 CDs during the entire mixing process. Of course, when I'm mixing a bunch of songs, I do put them all in one CD but sometimes it's not possible.

[Franknputer]

You should find a tree in your yard, and use some string to hang them from the branches. They make nice ornaments. :)

[Hippie]

Use them as skeets. KaBoom!

[Kendrix]

Getting people to play my stuff is the greatest challenge Ive got. Thinking that some copy of a song retreived from the garbage will undermine some vast revenue stream is, unfortunately, not a realistic concern in my case. Actually Id love something like that to happen - then I could assert my Copyright and sue the devils. I just toss my imperfect mixes in the can. If any A&R folks,promoters or publishers want the address of my garbage can please drop me a note. I put it out on the road Sunday evenings. Come and get it. :D

[Hippie]

[quote]Originally posted by Kendrix: [b]Getting people to play my stuff is the greatest challenge Ive got. Thinking that some copy of a song retreived from the garbage will undermine some vast revenue stream is, unfortunately, not a realistic concern in my case. Actually Id love something like that to happen - then I could assert my Copyright and sue the devils. I just toss my imperfect mixes in the can. If any A&R folks,promoters or publishers want the address of my garbage can please drop me a note. I put it out on the road Sunday evenings. Come and get it. :D [/b][/quote]That's a good point; Most record companies run from unsolicited material, I doubt they'd go digging around a smelly old garbage can for it. :) I suppose if I were Paul Mac., it would be a concern.

[G. Ratte]

Seriously, the easiest way to destroy a CD-R is to take a metal pointy thing (screwdriver, nail) and scratch it across the TOP side. The laser-reflective film stuff will flake right off in a second, nothing to it.

[MattC]

Anifa's got the right idea IMO. When I record, I want to have every last mix ever done so that I can compare them for future endeavors and keep them as possible future B-side material. You never know when a particualar band, song, or musician will hit it big and so will you if you've got early copies of the material. If you do burn them, though, DO NOT inhale the smoke- that stuff'll mess you up...