On The Broadcast Flag.
The EFF have launched their Digital Liberation Television Front.
The federal appeals court has questioned the move by the FCC to enforce compliance on hardware manufacturers.
Two of the three judges on the District of Columbia Circuit panel said the FCC never received permission from Congress to undertake such a sweeping regulation, which is intended to encourage the purchase of digital TV receivers that curb Internet distribution of over-the-air broadcasts of programming such as movies and sports.
“You’re out there in the whole world, regulating. Are washing machines next?” asked Judge Harry Edwards. Quipped Judge David Sentelle: “You can’t regulate washing machines. You can’t rule the world.”
The general gist is the FCC is mandating that all manufacturers of receivers of digital television signals must comply to a Broadcast Flag specification that can mean that digital content can not be recorded or copied.
Mark Cuban chimes in why he loves the idea of the Broadcast Flag.
That said, although the broadcast flag is bad for consumers in every possible way, it would be great for my content businesses. HDNet Films, 2929 Entertainment, Rysher Entertainment, The Dallas Mavericks, HDNet Productions, www.hd.net, every single content entity I have would benefit from the broadcast flag. Not because it would protect content, it wouldnt. Content doesnt need any special protections. There are enough laws on the books regarding theft that no special content laws are needed.
They all would benefit because we wouldnt use the broadcast flag. While the big networks would create confusion and anger with their customers, our businesses could be the knight in shining armour and provide content in exactly the means consumers want it, unencumbered and available to watch, where and how they like.
Cam will love that one.
If you’re in the U.S., and your not across the implications. Get involved! They’re stripping away your rights one technology at a time.
February 24th, 2005 at 9:34 pm
Living in Germany, I am always astonished how much power the people are freely giving to the FCC to keep them stupid. But if you listen to some of the pro-Fcc people, you know, their work is done.
If they don’t watch out, the U.S. will fall back centuries while the rest of the world evolves - and clever companies like Marc Cuban will take advantage like he promises. At the moment it seems as if the FCC is Marc’s biggest supporter if they follow their path.
Nicole, who believes that people should use their brain the way it is intendet to be.
February 28th, 2005 at 7:05 pm
yeah GO CUBAN! He gets it. We’ve got to get him on one of our shows. I wonder if McCabe will give him permission? ;-)