Hardware Copy Protection Battles

substatica writes: "Law.com is running this article on the content industry working to convince congress that not introducing hardware copyright protection ( as well as copy protection built into OS, Software, Web Browsers and Routers ) would eventually lead to the "industry's destruction", as put by Michael Eisner. We've been able to copy VHS for over a decade and they're still making movies. Does anyone really think that the movie industry will be eradicated due to copyright infringment?" Consideration of the SSSCA has been put off a few months, but it will be back. The Register covers one part of the split between content and hardware with this story about Philips getting more uppity about their Compact Disc logo, a follow-up to this story. The Reuters article that the Register refers to is here.

Comments

Funny, I just got a letter from my Senator

[firewort]

I just received a letter from my senator, John Edwards (D-NC) on this very matter.

He says "Thanks for contacting me to share your thoughts on the Security Systems Standards and Certification Act (SSSCA.) I appreciate hearing from you."

"As you know, this legislation, which has not yet been officially introduced in the Senate, would prohibit the manufacture of digital devices which do not include government-sanctioned copyright-protection technologies. A number of people have expressed concerns that this proposed measure is overbroad and that its restrictions on the duplication and distribution of digital content could be harmful to the technology industry. I understand your concerns."

"As a member of the Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee, I will keep your thoughts in mind should the SSSCA or similar legislation come before the Senate. I will also continue to consider ways to improve our copyright and internet security laws so they better serve the public. Your letter will help me in that work."

"Again, thank you for contacting me. Please let me know if I can be of assistance in the future."
"Yours sincerely, John Edwards"

What scares me here is, the continued work to improve our copyright and internet security laws....

Re:what's the real point?

[Lysander Luddite]

Sure there'll be a way around it. But it will be illegal. The way the system is heading everybody will do illegal things all day long. When you can't watch anything without fear of being arrested or paying a hefty fine, what do you do? When a population becomes subject to arrest at any time, what happens?

Bad laws have the effect of making more people criminals while simultaneously lowering the respect for laws.

Re:Mandatory Computer Upgrades?

[Masem]

People keep overlooking that SSSCA had a grandfather clause that any hardware/software made before a given date (I believe 2 years after passage) would not be subject to such rules.

Not that I'm agreeing with anything in that bill, only that it would not require forced upgrades, etc. as many many many people mistakening state.