Slashdot Mirror
EFF Urges Support for Rep. Boucher's DMCRA
DarkSparks writes "The EFF is urging everyone to contact their Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor Representative Rick Boucher and John Doolittle's recently introduced Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act (DMCRA, H.R. 5544), which would introduce labelling requirements for usage-impaired "copy-protected" compact discs, as well as make several key amendments to the DMCA, including affirming the right of scientific research into technology protection measures and affirming the right of citizens to circumvent technology measures to gain access to copyrighted works they've purchased."
If a law banning cheese came in to force, then the correct action would be to repeal that law, not to introduce another one limiting it.
This effectively repeals the portions of the DMCA that are especially vile. IANAS...TG (I am not a senator...thank God), but I'm under the impression that it would be much harder to repeal the entire law.
In the UK, laws set out the limits to your rights, they do not enumerate them.
In the US, we do have laws that explicitly state what we can do... like the Bill of Rights. It's a form of self-limitation in which the government prevents itself from passing future bad laws. What would you do if there were suddenly a ban on cheese? I guess it's working the other way around this time, though. Again, you don't see me in the blue suit, so I won't say anything I can't eat if I'm wrong ;-)
Imho opinion, this attitude would be the one the record companies should pursue. By allowing you to make one copy for yourself that is, for all intents and purposes, undistributable, they at least show some respect for your rights.
I am not being a Microsoft fanboy here, btw, Dolby's ATRAC codec (as used in Minidiscs and Sony Clies) offers exactly the same capabilities, long before MS thought of it.
Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
but to my mind the answer would be to amend the DMCA, not to introduce a second bill
In the United States, a law is amended by introducing another bill. The bill in question serves to amend the DMCA law.
IOW, bill HR12345 might put Law X on the books. Bill HR54321 might amend Law X with additional clarification, removed segments, and/or added text. The same bill might amend several laws at once and enact brand new ones -- all in one shot.
Getting a bit off topic, the Patriot Act bill is a great example of this. Not only did this bill put the Patriot Act on the books, it also enacted more than a dozen other things, including authorizing expenditures for highway construction and additional scientific funding on insect research.
The
Just because other people are indifferent doesn't mean you have to be. In Washington the loudest voice gets heard, they never hear from nor care about the apathetic part of the population. Why? Because so people vote that those who are politically active make a huge difference. For instance in Ohio during the last election the average winning percentage for Republican's in state elections was ~60%, but since only 33% of registered voters voted, and only ~60% of eligible voters are even registered, only about 8% of the elibible voters elected the winning candidates!! I personally have written to my senator about 10 times on issues relating to the DMCA and CARP, and have received 8 responses including one hand written letter. It is not hard to become engaged in the process and have your voice heard, but for some reason the American public thinks it is. Do I get apathetic and say, "fuck it the corp's with the most money are heard the loudest anyway" every once in a while, sure I do. But then I see another action item from the eff or RAIN or some other group I care about and I get off my preverbial ass and write a letter, or compose an inteligent email to my representatives in Washington. Get involved, have your voice heard.
There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.