Digital Media Consumer Rights Act

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Digital Media Consumer Rights Act

Posted by Hemos on Sunday February 2, 2003 @11:00PM from the changing-the-dmca dept.

irabinovitch writes "Representatives Rick Boucher and John Doolittle introduced the DMCRA which would to quote the EFF would "require labelling requirements for usage-impaired "copy-protected" compact discs, as well as several amendments to 1998's infamous Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)." We always seem to complain about the DMCA around here now is our chance to change it! Check out this "Action Alert" at the EFF."

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More to do with by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-02 23:05 · Score: 3, Interesting

How much they can scare Joe Public into sticking with the real thing. We should all pay for music from musicians, if you don't think they deserve it, don't pay, if you don't like their music, don't pay, if you want to listen to a preview, listen to the radio, if you want to buy MP3's online, do that, if you think musicians get paid to much, don't pay, they have a right to charge what they want and to who they want.

Now on the other hand, we should vote with our wallets and not buy copy protected music CD's that SUCK! especially in cheap ass car CD players... :-(

TQ
1. Re:More to do with by LX.onesizebigger · 2003-02-02 23:11 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Now on the other hand, we should vote with our wallets and not buy copy protected music CD's that SUCK! especially in cheap ass car CD players... :-(
  
  True, but unless something like this passes, we won't have a chance to know which discs are crippled. Personally I am already voting with my wallet. Since I got the first crippled album that wouldn't play in my computer's CD burner at the time (the only CD player I had) back in 2000, I haven't bought a single CD, since there is no way to know which ones are broken.
  
  --
  I for one welcome our new SCOviet Russian overlords to whom all our base are belong.
2. Re:More to do with by dsmurf · 2003-02-03 00:13 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Then again - it's more expensive for both the record stores and the RIAA-members if you simply return the defective album to the store for a refund.
  
  I usually ask the staff at the store if I can return the album if it turns out it wasn't a CD.
  If they say no, I don't buy it (and probably never go back to that store).
  
  They can hardly claim I copied it, right? ;)
3. Re:More to do with by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-03 00:15 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  we should vote with our wallets and not buy copy protected music CD's
  
  This is about more than just CD labels, it's about regulations on both production and fair use.
  
  I had a big discussion with some friends the first time this bill was introduced. My friend is a liberitarian who thought we should not be introducing new industry regulations (forced labeling) in music.
  
  I disagree with that argument for 2 reasons. Fist of all, crippled discs that are not labeled are basically illegal anyway since they are being falsely advertized as regular CDs. This may be a new regulation, but it is a reedundant and minor 1.
  
  Secondly, the main focus of the bill is on deregulation (and thus should appeal to liberitarians). The DMCA currently prohibits consumers from 'unencrypting' crippled CDs. It also prohibits production of hardware or software that breaks cpoyright encryption on these CDs. This bill will remove those regulations.
What can I do... by KDan · 2003-02-02 23:05 · Score: 5, Interesting

I'm not american, I have no money (unemployed), but I want to support this because those laws seem to get exported along with the rest - is there any way I can support this, through sending some letters maybe?

Daniel

--
Carpe Diem
1. Re:What can I do... by videodriverguy · 2003-02-03 00:11 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  I'd like to support this too, but where I am (China) I can buy unprotected music CDs for $2, VCDs (video CDs) for $3, all legally. I can, of course, also buy from legitimate outlets pirate DVDs for $3 (like Die Another Day, with the oscar stuff over it).
  
  There is a music/movie store here that sells real import DVDs and CDs, but at USA prices. Given that those prices exceed the monthly pay for most people here, they don't sell that many!
  
  And, yes, I too was unemployed in the USA before I came here. I'd like to be back there, but stuff like the DMCA makes me think twice.
Government at work... by Motherfucking+Shit · 2003-02-02 23:10 · Score: 4, Interesting

This reminds me of the old quote,

"If pro is the opposite of con, what's the opposite of progress?"

If nothing else, I have to laugh at the proposed name (DMCRA). It's a poignant acronym, with just the right amount of "ha-ha" expected. Once again we have the pols battling it out against each other, with the target result being to counteract each other. For once, I hope this is achieved. To counter the DMCA with the DMCRA would raise my spirits for sure.

Thank you, Rep. Boucher, for raising a subtle yet interpretable middle finger to the DMCA (and for your other clueful work). If ever I meet you, I owe you a drink, and that's a promise :)

--
"BSD: Free as in speech. Linux: Free as in beer. Windows 10: Free as in herpes." --Man On Pink Corner in #52607549.
This is a secondary soluytion by amigaluvr · 2003-02-02 23:18 · Score: 2, Interesting

This worries me

We have one section of government (RIAA) working one set of laws to take away digital rights

And now we have another working to attempt to bring them back. Does that make sense?

Putting all the effort into having one continuously working against the other in the hope there's a middle ground that is safe doesn't seem sensible

working departments together would be the best option. I don't see why this can't be done
Re:Uncharted Territory... by svwolfpack · 2003-02-02 23:44 · Score: 3, Interesting

Ok well obviously a singular voice isn't likely to happen, but, should a true singular voice emerge, it would be the ideal situation. The closer a society gets to sharing the same mindset, the better off it is. And I'm not talking control or limited freedom, I'm talking about a purest form democracy, where the elected (not appointed) leader accurately represents the will of the people.

--
Once upon a time...
It's easy to get them to care by ShatteredDream · 2003-02-02 23:47 · Score: 5, Interesting

My parents used to think I was a lefty because of this issue. They couldn't be convinced of why it should be a right to make your own mp3s/oggs, etc. So I started barraging them with story after story of the media interests being unethical and eventually they understood why I feel the way I do. For my dad, a staunch conservative, the CBDTPA was the real catalyst because of its mandate on the entire computer industry. That's when he said enough is enough, the media cartels are socialist parasites.

--
Click here or a puppy gets stomped!
Re:List of Co-Sponsors of HR107 by Anonymous Coward · 2003-02-03 00:17 · Score: 1, Interesting

Isn't it possible that the republicans are already alined with the **AA's and that they(**AA) are donating to the democratic party in-order to further secure their victories?

info..
http://www.commoncause.org/laundromat/

Do a search for 'recording' on that site and you get some interesting results..

Those stats seem to suggest the opposite of yours..Who's right? heh..
Re:Uncharted Territory... by GigsVT · 2003-02-03 01:18 · Score: 2, Interesting

The closer a society gets to sharing the same mindset, the better off it is.

Yeah, like after Sep 11. What are you thinking man?!?

"The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime, abuses its strength, and by acting on the law of the strongest breaks up the foundations of society."--Thomas Jefferson to P. Dupont, 1816.

"Bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the
majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be
reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws
must protect, and to violate would be oppression." --Thomas Jefferson: 1st Inaugural, 1801.

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of it's victims may be
the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than
under omnipotent moral busy-bodies. The robber baron's cruelty may
sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those
that torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do
so with the approval of their own conscience."
- C.S. Lewis

--
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
Labelling Won't Work by Afty0r · 2003-02-03 01:38 · Score: 2, Interesting

I live in the UK and until two weeks ago boycotted DVDs - I didn't own a single one. I broke my boycott for reasons unrelated to this argument.

What is pertinent is that DVDs are labelled in this country - they have logos on the rear of the covers that indicate region protection, macrovision etc. and people still buy them.

I don't know what you guys in the US have on your packaging, but over here ours are labelled already and the consumers don't care.
Re:Uncharted Territory... by cajunfj40 · 2003-02-03 02:51 · Score: 2, Interesting

"Ok well obviously a singular voice isn't likely to happen, but, should a true singular voice emerge, it would be the ideal situation. The closer a society gets to sharing the same mindset, the better off it is."

I'm sorry, but I must strongly disagree with you on this one. When a society shares the same mindset, that society no longer has individuals capable of seeing other viewpoints, much less thinking about them. This scares me. I want a diversity of mindsets so that any question/problem/idea can be tackled from as many directions as is humanly possible. Makes for much more interesting and fruitful discussion, IMHO.

"And I'm not talking control or limited freedom, I'm talking about a purest form democracy, where the elected (not appointed) leader accurately represents the will of the people."

IMHO, the best possible situation in our current system of government is a leader that, while everyone may not *agree* with, they respect and support their leadership because they know that the leader accurately represents the *interests* of the people, not necessarily their will.

Catch y'all later,
-cajunfj40
Is this actually good? by AmigaAvenger · 2003-02-03 03:00 · Score: 0, Interesting

Congresscritters have a talent for tacking on things to bills at the very last moment, I have a feeling this bill is not going to weaken the DMCA, but in fact strenghten it beyond what we already fear! The worst part would be that the RIAA and company could now claim that everyonw wants the controls and such, since there was such a groundswell of grass roots support, courtesy of the geeks!
The best way to get this passed... by CorprateSlave · 2003-02-03 07:03 · Score: 2, Interesting

Call the office of your rep, indicate that you would like to make a donation to his next campaign, in person. You will likely get an appointment, especially for anything over $500, but even $100 should do. At the appoinment, make the donation and be prepared to briefly discuss the merits of the bill in question. (This goes for any bill, actually). Be sure to insinuate that there is more money where that came from, if you decide that they are someone that you would like to support. Lather, rinse, repeat.

For those in the crowd who are uncomfortable with these tactics, just remember, the other side has been doing this for years, and have no problem with continuing. We didn't start this war, but if we don't start getting in the trench and fighting the battle as they are, we are sure to lose it.