No, the word "claim" doesn't mean "handout." The definition is actually nice and straightforward: a demand for something that is owed.
And buyers are owed nothing here. They willingly purchased CDs at the advertised price. Why do you care how that price was arrived at? Why do you care if a bunch of record labels got together to decide what it should be?
Now, I know why those attorneys general care -- they've bought into the notion that trade should be managed by people like themselves, people who "know what's best" for "the public." They've bought into the notion that THEY know what a "fair price" is, regardless of what the seller thinks.
If those are the notions you've bought into as well, I guess I do wonder where you stand ideologically.
Why do you care how that price was arrived at? What happened to supply and demand?
they've bought into the notion that trade should be managed by people like themselves...
The federal Constitution contains a commerce clause (Article 1, Section 8) explicitly giving congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. Each state constitution probably contains a similar clause concerning trade within the state. Therefore, trade is managed by people like themselves (i.e. representatives of the state).
If those are the notions you've bought into as well, I guess I do wonder where you stand ideologically.
I guess that would make me a constitutionalist. ;^)
And what's so wrong with customers asking for a refund?