Shocker: Despicable Conduct From Disney

An Anonymous Coward writes: "Phil Lelyveld, (email) a Vice President for Disney, has written to the FCC to tell them to ignore Digital Consumer's comments on the Broadcast Flag issue. The Broadcast Flag is an inter-industry conspiracy to turn over the keys to general-purpose computing to Hollywood studio execs -- under this proposal, no one will be able to ship digital television technology (like DVD recorders and FireWire) without Hollywood's permission. Lelyveld wrote to the FCC -- who are taking comments on the proposal -- without mentioning his day-job, to tell them that Digital Consumer, a civil liberties groups with more than 40,000 members, is nothing more than a "two dot.com millionaires" working to create a world "where we are all artist/waiters." Joined the EFF Yet? (or is it time to renew?) Update: 12/06 14:55 GMT by M : Lelyveld is not a lawyer. Here's a summary of his background.

Comments

Lelyveld's comments

[Anonymous Coward]

Lelyveld's comments can be found here.

Here's the text:

DON'T SELL OUT TO MILLIONAIRES CLAIMING TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE

! DigitalConsumer.com is two dot.com millionaires claiming to represent "the people." They represent nothing more than a free website. We need the Broadcast Flag in place so that REAL PEOPLE who spend their lives creating content can work in a sustainable business environment where they can get paid for their work. We do not want to live in the world DigitalConsumer.dot is trying to create for us, where we are all artist/waiters.

Please SUPPORT the broadcast flag effort.

Phil Lelyveld

Re:How about some proof?

[Anonymous Coward]

proof.

Right here...

[ryman]

This required a little digging (on a site linked to from EFF's Broadcast Flag site), but should've been linked to by the submitter.

Re:Applicable Quote

[Paul Menage]

There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country ...

I'm not sure who said it. But it sure does apply.

A judge in Robert Heinlein's short story Life-Line. It's part of the Future History series, and anthologised in various places, including The Man Who Sold The Moon. It's talking about a scientist who's created a machine that will tell you the precise moment of your death, and he gets sued by a bunch of life insurance companies, since by consulting him, people know exactly when to start investing in life insurance policies ...

(Oh, and the original doesn't appear to have the words for their private benefit at the end.)

Look! He admits it!

[knodi]

I quote

In my spare time, I monitor the web for new technologies and trends, track the goings-on of many 'consumer advocate' groups, and quietly work with my compatriots on proposals to create the entertainment industry of the future.

Sound shady? Nah... Who could mistrust a proud member of the Rockland High School Academic Hall of Fame? Hey everybody, sign his guestbook @ http://www.ryze.com/view.php?who=pblelyveld His job at disney is not as mere IP attorney. He's actually the VP of Digital Industry Relations. I agree it's unethical not to mention your affiliation like he did, but read his job description of his first position at Di$ney

Lelyveld joined Disney in 1997 as director, Digital Industry Relations. In this role, he worked with the company's business units on a wide range of initiatives in advanced television, digital cinema, emerging media and content protection.

This guy's not a flunky or an overzealous marketeer (like mouseketeer? hah!). He's a professional. (last quote from http://laughingplace.com/News-ID10005230.asp)

The last day for FCC comments is TODAY!

[jms]

It wasn't mentioned in the article, but the comment period ends TODAY, Dec 6th. It was originally supposed to end on October 30th, but was extended to today.

If you want to submit your opinion to the FCC on this matter, and have them read and consider it, today is your last chance.

The digitalconsumer web page for sending comments is here.