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Digital Media Consumer Rights Act

Posted by Hemos on 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."

8 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. More to do with by Anonymous Coward · · 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 · · 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 Anonymous Coward · · 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.

  2. What can I do... by KDan · · 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 · · 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.

  3. Government at work... by Motherfucking+Shit · · 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.
  4. Re:Uncharted Territory... by svwolfpack · · 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...
  5. It's easy to get them to care by ShatteredDream · · 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!