According to the PopJustice forums, from November 7th, EMI will no longer be releasing CDs. Instead, all their new records will be released as "Copy Controlled" discs, which depart significantly from the CD Red Book standard, and as a bonus, install device drivers on your Windows PC without your consent to prevent ripping (if this was done by a random person off the street, this would be hacking and be subject to a custodial sentence; when a record company does it, it's celebrated as a blow against piracy).

The current solution? The current protection schemes rely on the user running Windows, as dumb as that sounds (indeed, some CDs refuse to play back on anything less than full Administrator access, so they can install the anti-ripping device drivers). So, if you have a Mac or a Linux machine (even just a LiveCD will do), you can create a pristine digital copy with no fuss whatsoever. Of course, you'll still technically be breaking the law in the UK, but I don't think the music industry really wants to sue somebody who actually bought a copy of the CD (mind you, they're crazy enough to try it).