In the case of CDs purchased between 1983 and 2004, was this alleged licensing scheme disclosed to the purchaser?
The RIAA spent 1983-2004 laughing their asses off that they had discovered a way to get people to pay twice for the same music (LP and then CD). They did not protect the digital format and they CERTAINLY did nothing to protect their absurd post-hoc claim of a licensing contract, other than bribing a few congressmen.
that is also true, if this were truly a level playing field, the music industry should have been forced to provide CDs to people who alreaady owned LPs and casettes of albums - for just the cost of the media itself.