Required Reading

[noddin0ff]

I just read this article.
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/jun06/3673

It should be required reading for anyone who wishes to record anything in the digital domain, including HD broadcasts, HD radio, DVD, Blue Ray... basically everything.

It highlights what the future may look like if Hollywood gets it's way and that future is grim. It also gives a very comprehensive view of the effect of the Digital Millennial Copyright Act (DMCA) on consumer rights and products.

One thing I was unaware of was the Analog Hole Bill aka the Digital Transition Content Security Act, H.R. 4569 (please read the links). It is bad. This would prevent you from using the analog pathway for recording. It would essentially completely prevent you from exercising your fair use right to copy any future media, including off-the-air recording.

The DCMA already outlaws software and devices that could be used for digital copying/recording. Block the analog path, and there isn’t anything left.

There’s a couple ways you can petition your representative to stop passage of the bill. The EFF provides a couple links

https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy...rAction&id=233

https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy...rAction&id=233

[superpanavision70mm]

Guess what though? There are always ways around it! If they can build something to stop people from doing something, than we can also build something that allows us to.

[swicken]

The Analog Hole Bill won't pass.

[noddin0ff]

On the one hand, I can't image a politician voting for plugging the hole. It just sounds too dirty.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

On the one hand, I can't image a politician voting for plugging the hole. It just sounds too dirty.

Noddin, you potty mind

These rules are going to test people's desire to have their will be done. If the consuming public has so checked out of reality, these rules will pass, and both the record and movie industry will get their control. If the public decides to take a stand, they will ingage with their local politician and tell them to vote no on all acts that restrict, or go against the Betamax ruling. I personally have no faith in the American public, and I think these rules will pass because the industries will have threatened you local officials(or paid them) to the point where they will agree with anything coming from these two industries.

I wish I had more failth in my fellow man.