# Buy a CD between 1995-2000? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 9, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501 "2003-01-09T13:48:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/1 "2003-01-09T13:48:41Z")
Didja buy a CD between 1995-2000? You paid too much. The companies even admit it. So here’s what they’re willing to do about it for you: [CD MAP Settlement](http://www.musiccdsettlement.com/english/default.htm) ([http://www.musiccdsettlement.com/english/default.htm](http://www.musiccdsettlement.com/english/default.htm)) Go file. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/2 "2003-01-09T13:58:59Z")
Just saw a clip on CNN about that. The guy said you have to jump through some pretty serious hoops (fill out tons of stuff) to get about 10 bucks or so. I still think everyone should do this, just so those bloodsuckers will get hit in the wallet. Thanks Tuba! ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/3 "2003-01-09T14:08:56Z")
Well, us Canucks are out in the cold on this one… for US citizens only. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/4 "2003-01-09T14:18:11Z")
You don’t have to fill out tons of stuff. It took me less than a minute to file my claim. ---
**Author:** ![pipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c2a13f/32.png) [@pipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pipper)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/5 "2003-01-09T14:29:21Z")
No big hoops. Name, address and email address. One of the interesting points of the settlement is that the total cash payout amount is fixed and will be divded up among the people filling claims UNLESS so many people file claims that the payout per person drops below $5. In that case the money gets donated to charitable groups. Having to cut checks and do a mailing to hundreds of thousands of people is a huge pain in the rear, so I wonder if the record companies are now trying to publicize this in the hopes that so many people will file claims that they can avoid individual payouts and just dump the money on a few charities? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/6 "2003-01-09T15:07:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racer72 \* > \*\*You don’t have to fill out tons of stuff. It took me less than a minute to file my claim. \*\* Thats what I get for watching CNN, (a division of **Time Warner** )😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/7 "2003-01-09T15:13:43Z")
> [@](#): > > One of the interesting points of the settlement is that the total cash payout amount is fixed and will be divded up among the people filling claims UNLESS so many people file claims that the payout per person drops below $5. In that case the money gets donated to charitable groups. Don’t do it! Stay away! It’s a scam! Uh… they use the information to steal your identity! It’s made of people!! Must… discourage people… to still get my $10… ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/8 "2003-01-09T15:20:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skammer \* > \*\*Uh… they use the information to steal your identity! \*\* To be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if this was true. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/9 "2003-01-09T15:25:58Z")
They want it so that Metallica can come around to your house and check if you downloaded any of their songs illegally. And to fiddle with your taps so that the drip at night. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/10 "2003-01-09T16:27:24Z")
Let them come. I know plumbers. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/11 "2003-01-09T16:52:08Z")
**TubaDiva** , thanks for the heads up! However, you are incorrect to say “You paid too much. The companies even admit it.” The companies quite explicitly do not admit it: > [@](#): > > **Distributor Defendants have denied and continue to deny each and all of the claims and contentions alleged by the Plaintiffs or arising from the activities, conduct, statements, acts or omissions alleged or that could have been alleged in the Litigation and believe that the evidence developed to date supports these denials, as well as Distributor Defendants’ defenses against Plaintiffs’ claims. Nonetheless, Distributor Defendants have concluded that further conduct of the Litigation would be protracted and expensive. Distributor Defendants also have taken into account the uncertainty and risks inherent in any litigation, especially in complex cases like the Litigation, and have therefore determined that it is desirable and beneficial to them that the Litigation be settled in the manner and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Settlement Agreement.** (From the Agreement of Settlement with the Distributor Defendants) As someone who has worked on class action cases (although not anything like this one), I can say quite honestly that suits are sometimes settled because defendants with no true liability are not willing to gamble on an expensive and time-consuming process which may lead to an unjust result. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/12 "2003-01-09T16:55:14Z")
Yeah, the $5-20 will really make up for being over-charged for the 200+ cds I bought in that time frame…\ ---
**Author:** ![Qixotica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@Qixotica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qixotica)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/13 "2003-01-09T17:41:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Yeah, the $5-20 will really make up for being over-charged for the 200+ cds I bought in that time frame…\ No kidding, \*\* elfkin477\*\*! 95-97 were my cd glut years. Must have bought at least 300 in that frame. Ah well, life goes on. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-a-cd-between-1995-2000/147501/14 "2003-01-09T22:51:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pipper \* > \*\*…so I wonder if the record companies are now trying to publicize this in the hopes that so many people will file claims that they can avoid individual payouts and just dump the money on a few charities? \*\* Those **bastards**. Screw the hungry children of Appalachia. I paid $17.99 for a Smashing Pumpkins CD (and it was _Adrore_ for crissakes)…and they have the nerve to think of charity?