Christian band: Here's how to hack our CD

So the bassist from the Christian band Switchfoot is apparently giving instructions on how to disable the technological protection measures (TPM), aka digital "rights" management (DRM), on the band's new CD. It's not the band that decided to lock down their art in a way that keeps many people from using the lawfully-acquired CDs they buy.

This isn't the first time an artist has been this irked about a label deciding to lock down a CD without said artist's permission. Ben Harper was also really pissed when Virgin did the same thing to him. He doesn't want to work with them any longer because of it.

This is, however, the first time I've heard of a band that's willing to break a major federal law (17 USC Sec. 1201(b)) in order to rebel against its own techno-lockdown. Depending on whether prosecuted under section 1203 or 1204, this is either a potential statutory damage award of $2500 (more likely trumped-up "actual" damage charges) or a felony conviction with a max fine of $500,000 and a term of up to 5 years.

That is one brave bassist. Notice how I do not include the link. I like my money and my freedom, so I haven't even bothered to track it down.

So much for the rhetoric of protecting artists.