an open alternative to the CDDB lock in. http://freedb.org/

for programms that do no allow you to select a cd metadata server (eg itunes) the following line is helpful in /etc/hosts

## route cddb -> freedb
64.71.163.204   cddb.cddb.org
64.71.163.204   service.cddb.com

NOTE: freedb uses the cddb1 protocol, whereas most recent cddb access (eg. itunes versions > 4) is done using cddb2, which is imcompatible, furthering the encroachment…)