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File-sharing, Digital Rights Management, Etc.

Posted by michael on from the another-brick-in-the-wall dept.

Politech has a couple of good articles on political developments in the post-Napster world. (That's almost a Katz phrase there, isn't it?) The folks behind Kazaa, when they're not busy spying on their userbase, took the time to write to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after a bashing they took a few weeks ago. Kazaa's new owners suggest a general royalty fee, perhaps similar to the recent webcasting fees, be put in place to compensate intellectual property holders for file-sharing. Meanwhile, the European Commission takes a look at digital rights management. Looks like Europe will get its own version of the SSSCA.

1 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. Re:paranoia. by DarkSkiesAhead · · Score: 5, Informative

    Micorsoft patented a digital rights operating system
    ...
    Somehow, the connection between this and the SSSCA could mean that Microsoft could be the only legal OS in the US.

    In fact, the SSSCA has already made provisions for M$ in SECTION 107. ANTITRUST EXEMPTION:

    (c) EXEMPTION AUTHORIZED. -- When the Secretary finds that it is required by the public interest, the Secretary shall exempt a person participating in a meeting or discussion described in subsection (a) from the antitrust laws to the extent necessary to allow the person to proceed with the activities approved in the order.


    The persons described in subsection (a) are the "representatives of interactive digital device manufacturers". Isn't it great how our law-makers can forcefully create new markets for M$ (or others) to dominate?