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Senator Calls For Copy-Protection Tags

Posted by timothy on from the truth-in-labeling dept.

Anonymous Coward writes "C|net has an article on a new bill being proposed in the Senate that requires all software, music and movies that employ copy-protection schemes must be prominently labeled with consumer warnings, which is being sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon."

8 of 393 comments (clear)

  1. My Proposal by Drunken+Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    The warning should say something like "Due to overzealous digital media companies, the enclosed product is broken and may not function in all hardware. Attempting to fix the defect is in violation of the DMCA and may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of applicable law."

    --
    Have you been stalked by Seth today?
  2. Great idea! by mr.henry · · Score: 3, Interesting
    A copy-protected CD broke my CD changer recently. It had difficulty reading the disc's table of contents, then it jumped to a random track and played for a minute or two. After that, I had problems playing *any* CD. Luckily, the changer was under warranty and I got it fixed for free.

    Fat Chuck's maintains a list of copy-protected. Be careful!!

  3. Copy protected vs. non-copy protected. by Rai · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If stores sold the copy protected version of a CD for oh say, $12-$15 (yeah, I know that's laughable considering how expensive CDs have become) and the non-copy protected version for $18-$20, I wonder which would sell better. Is it worth an extra $3-$5 to be able to backup the CD (and yes, I know you should able to do this without paying extra.)

  4. Most people won't care by Kombat · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The sad thing is, most people won't care. They'll roll this out, a very vocal, splinter minority will kick up a loud stink, it'll blow over, and we'll have lost a little more freedom. The public is just too lazy and apathetic to get worked up over something so (seemingly) trivial. As long as the beer store is still there and they're still running Bingo every Thursday night, they'll just go with the flow.

    One thing I've learned is that it takes a VERY big offense to motivate your average citizen to actually get up off their couch and do something - ANYTHING - about something. I mean geez, polls show that at a minimum, 30% of Americans oppose the war on^H^Hin Iraq. That's what, 90,000,000 Americans? How many actually show up at the protests? A few thousand here and there? And we're talking about peoples' lives being at stake! Hell, half of the Yankee populace can't even be bothered to vote - you think they're going to sit down and write a letter to their rep over some stupid copy protection that they don't even understand anyway? Call my cynical, but I don't think so.

    I believe that if the RIAA decides they want this tech out there, then it's just a matter of time before all CDs have this copy protection. You can boycott if you want, but if every single CD is using it, there won't be any alternatives for you to direct your money at (none worth listening to, anyway). :(

    --
    Like woodworking? Build your own picture frames.
  5. Text of the Bill by BigBir3d · · Score: 4, Informative

    Digital Consumer Right to Know Act

  6. Re:Call for suggests for a Free/Open tag slogan by E-Rock-23 · · Score: 3, Funny

    How about these:

    It Sure As Hell Ain't Microsoft!

    Open Source: Spread The Love!

    Finally, Something Legal To Trade On KaZaA!

    Copy Me, Burn Me, Give Me To Your Friends!

    Or, simply: Distribute Freely And Often.

    --
    Blog Prophyts - Right On, Man
  7. Re:Call for suggests for a Free/Open tag slogan by dsplat · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The third and fourth nearly had me choking on my coffee. But serious, the final one is suitable for any audience. It conveys the point succinctly and memorably. A slight variation on it that uses both the words "free" and "open" and conveys a subtly different message would be:

    Distribute Freely And Openly

    Tell everyone who gets a copy that they are encouraged to share it, and they don't have to do it secretly. There's no conspiracy. And there's no one looking over their shoulders to catch them.

    --
    The net will not be what we demand, but what we make it. Build it well.
  8. The red book specification by yerricde · · Score: 3, Informative

    Does it say that random bits must not be inserted?

    Yes. The red book states that the block error rate must be under a specific threshold. The books also state that the index records have to come in a specific order and fit specific consistency constraints, especially across sessions. The copy restriction schemes break these, and discs that use them do not conform to the red book specification or the CD Plus specification.

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