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Broadcast Flag Technologies Open For Comment
An anonymous reader submits "The Broadcast Flag Rule, discussed here(1) and here(2) controls redistribution of digital television by requring receivers to restrict the output of content to certain outputs. One of the most influential concerns as to how bad this will be is what digital output and recording technologies are approved for use. Today, a Public Notice has been issued listing the technologies submitted for approval. This is the public's chance to comment on these submissions. The information provided to the FCC can be found using the Electronic Comment Filing System and searching based on the docket number from the Public Notice. Comments can also be submitted using ECFS."
Obligatory /. mirror
If you're religishitty, KILL YOURSELF!
is that this technology appears to make a whole generation of older video devices (TV's, VCR's, etc.) that are still working fine obsolete.
I have a 20-year old RCA 19-inch console TV that is still working fine. I don't want to buy another just because of some damn 'broadcast flag' not letting watch my shows.
CMDRTACO CHECK YOUR EMAIL!
while true; tail /var/log/traffic.eth0.txt | mail abuse@fbi.gov; done
Why do they think this will work? Has digital DRM worked yet? All it takes is one person to design a digital filter, post the instructions on the internet, and they've just lost the ability to control content. This is gonna make cable descrambling look like a side project.
--trb
...You should pay for it, be it software, music, movies, still pictures, or books.
Only the owner can run a printing press and sell their own copyrighted material. When the owner gives up that right, or the copyright expires, then anyone may duplicate the materials.
Pretty simple, right?
Users easily fall into the trap of "It's so easy to do it for *free*, why should I pay some publishing or record company a duplicating fee?" The answer is that you still owe the author or artist due compensation.
The record, movie, and book companies are going to give way to other forms of distribution that will collect royalties. ASCAP already collects fees from radio stations, it would be easy for them to get into the internet distribution business!
Have you Meta Moderated t
Not to be cynical, because I respect people participating in our democracy, but what's the point? Michael Powell blatently ignores the public commentary EVERY time, and sides with big business 100% of the time over the comsumer. The man has yet to make even one pro consumer decision since taking the reigns of the FCC.
Realistically, we are not going to make a difference on this no matter how many of us post, because the FCC doesn't give one whit about consumers currently. If you really want this to have even a remote chance of working out for the best, take action by voting Kerry.
Devon Jones
- The unexamined life is not worth leading -
There is precisely zero chance that a comment this time is going to be any different. You cannot affect this process by posting to a forum.
Our intelligent designer has never created an animal that we couldn't improve by strapping a bomb to it.
So, there's some technology that's going to make it more difficult and less rewarding to watch TV?
Yeah, I'll take some of that.
I was having a conversation with someone about this today.
Does anybody watch TV anymore? Aren't there more interesting things going on? Do people talk about TV shows at work, or is it games these days?
Is a Tivo full of "Dharma and Greg" really the key to eternal bliss?
Anyway, if someone wants a mutiny on a sinking ship, I say let him wear the captain's hat.
What were you expecting?
I'm weak. I'd like to stop watching TV, but I don't have the willpower.
But the day I'll be unable to record a show because of the flag is the day I'll quit TV. Cold turkey. I've done it before (for a year or so) and I can do it again for as long as it takes for the flag to die (even if it never happens).
Hey, Powell got all righteous and indignant when Janet flashed her nipple. He was going to fine CBS and revoke their license. That's not exactly pro-business, is it?
Of course, when they kill someone on TV that's just fine. No outrage, no fines. Death good, nipple bad. Just so we know our priorities are straight.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
This has nothing to do with the broadcast flag.
That is, unless the broadcast flag has a way to express "copyright owner prohibits converter boxes from downsampling video to an 480i analog composite signal".
All the more reason to comment. There are infinitely more of 'us' than there are of 'them.' The simplest way to beat the system is to get as many people involved as possible: it takes a lot more manpower to raid the houses of a hundred thousand than of ten. If there's enough public dissent, whether or not we're written off, we can prevent them from going after others by showing number solidarity-- and when people look back, the history books won't say "...and nobody tried to help."
More seriously as to all of this, I am a little tired of the cynical view on issues, speaking as a cynic: My vote may or may not be actually counted, my opinion may or may not be listened to, I'm pretty sure they're probably not. Either way, though, isn't it worth a little effort, and a little fight, just to try? If you're right, sure, your efforts amount to nothing-- but why not give it a try, just in case you may be wrong?
Just because you're cynical doesn't mean you have to be apathetic.
"Anonymous cowards are just K-whores afraid of their accounts being modded down." - Bob the O (me)
Politicians are controlled by those who give them money. That stated, a different, and more pleasant, set of people sponsor Kerry and are putting as much money as possible into defeating Bush (The Sierra Club and Moveon.org, for a couple examples of major groups involved in spending this time around).
Vote for Nader? No! Vote for me. You're doing just as much for your country, and your supposed conscience that makes you vote for a candidate that has no chance to win will feel EVEN BETTER knowing it's casting a vote for somebody who feels the need to be politically active the year round, rather than showing up on the political scene every four years to reap the benefits of my pro-consumer activism from years and years ago. I'm more leftist than he is, and I'm beholden to nobody, as nobody is giving me any money at all.
I can understand voting for the man in 2002 in an attempt to establish a third party, but right now he's running on his own, as an independent. All you're doing is ensuring a greater evil wins. You have the right to vote for whomever you choose-- feel free to put down Nader-- but know that you may as well be writing down your own name on that ballot, as you have just as good a chance to win as he does.
"Anonymous cowards are just K-whores afraid of their accounts being modded down." - Bob the O (me)
So the GNAA will be mailbombing the FBI? This should be interesting.
May we never see th