http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/47939.html
The article says it all, I think. Nutshell: Congress wants to restrict video recording devices so you can't make legal copies.
The DMCA itself goes too far. It says that I can't write a program to watch a DVD that I own on a player that I own, as I would have to "circumvent" the "encription" to play it. The article also mentions the Broadcast Flag being struck down. This was to be a signal that would prevent you from recording an on-air program or restrict your viewing therof. Sadly, congress may still pass some version of the broadcast flag.
2 comments:
Thanks for posting the link to that DCMA article! I agree, the DCMA goes too far.
I've been working on the side to help the Washington State House Republican Caucus Media Services Office get up to speed with how they record and disseminate sound bytes and audio "wraps" to interested radio stations (provided the same service to the House Democrats a couple of years ago). It occurs to me that if the DCMA were to pass, it will be more difficult for the Media Services Office to obtain video or audio that they have permission to obtain (say, an interview with a lawmaker on a talk show to be used as part of a news story later).
At home, to "record" commercially produced content for personal viewing will become a crime under the DCMA. It would be absurd to think that anyone who has owned a VCR, DVR, or Tivo unit has not used such equipment to "tape" a TV show or movie to watch later. But the MPAA, in it's infinite wisdom, doesn't seem to take that into consideration when praising the draconian approach of the DCMA. Since the last round of MPAA-mandated laws regarding the reporoduction of copyrighted material was passed, technology has taken a great leap forward. But the MPAA, instead of adjusting it's policies with the times, is taking steps that will stem further recording technology advances. In my 10+ years as a broadcaster, I've seen regulations and fees for radio and TV stations increase, while the "common sense" access of material decreases (streaming audio on the internet for commercial radio stations spings to mind). The MPAA (and other groups, like ASCAP, SESAC, BMI, etc.) discovered too late in the game that people know how to get their meterial for free, so every year, those groups stick it to everyone to make even more and more money.
My advice - before the DCMA has a chance of passing, go buy that TV-tuner for the PC you may have thought about buying, or be prepared to record audio or video with the stuff you already have - from now on.
We are totally on the same page here, bro.
One problem is we have no "pro tech" block in congress. Most issues can count on at least a small group of supporters and detractors, but not tech issues. Most lawmakers don't understand that the DMCA restricts our freedoms and stiffles innovation. The DMCA doesn't stop real piracy, but it stops me from making a legal backup (utilizing Fair Use) of an irreplacible Disney DVD.
It is the DMCA that says it is illegal for me to watch a DVD on my linux box (I have a Windows partition for games). I own the DVD. I own the DVD player. It came with legal player software for Windows. But any player software for linux, freely available from the authors, is illegal in the U.S.. So I can't watch. I'm not trying to copy or distribute the darn thing, I just want to see it on my hi-res monitor. Ugh. I have emailled my Senators and Congresswoman. The Senators don't seem to care; my Congresswoman seems to be paying attention but she is pretty much a lone voice. Ugh.
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