Two Congressmen Push for DMCA Amendments

silicon not in the v writes "Rep Rick Boucher, D-Va, is proposing a bill to amend the DMCA to specifically allow copying digital media for the purpose of personal backups. This is, of course, being fought hard by the content lobbies, most significantly the MPAA for its potential for bootlegging DVDs. Here was my favorite quote: 'There is no right in the copyright law to make backup copies of motion pictures, so the whole argument that people should have the right to make backup copies of DVDs has no legal support whatsoever,' said Fritz Attaway, executive vice president of the MPAA." See also stories from the Associated Press and CNet.

Comments

Rick Boucher

[The Ape With No Name]

I worked on one of his campaigns while in college in Virginia. One smart dude and a certified tech interest guy. Keeps his constituents happy and his politics liberal/libertarian (with the little l).

Wow

[JaffaKREE]

WASHINGTON -- Some lawmakers are introducing a bill that Hollywood is not happy about -- one that would allow consumers to make personal copies of digital entertainment like DVDs to be played on whatever device they want.

Gee, what a CRAZY idea, that I actually have the right to watch the $24.99 DVD I bought. For whatever reason, Macrovision absolutely owns my TV, even on legally purchased DVDs (the high and low color changes on Futurama were UN-friggin-believable). I already have to rip and re-burn them just to watch them, or use a macro-scrubber. This is a step in the right direction. Maybe someday I'll be able to watch the originals.

Re:Back me up on "backing up"

[Anonymous Custard]

Software companies used to do this. If your CD got too scratched up or even if you lost a CD, you jsut had to send in the first page of the manual or something to prove you owned it, alogn with the damaged CD, and they'd send you a replacement.

How come movie companies don't do this; replace damaged discs?

Did I buy the disc, or did I buy a license to make personal use of the movie on the disc, and the disc is just the transport mechanism?

But backups increase prices!

[SoopahMan]

This quote by the MPAA is incredible:

These products like 321 [backup software] allow people to be free riders ... It raises the prices for legitimate copies and it also reduces the availability of the copies.

Absolutely. I mean, just look at the way CD prices have shot up since MP3 trading became popular. Wait - CD prices were on a steady rise until it was popular, then the RIAA lowered prices from $21 to $13 a CD once MP3s were rampant. Hmmmm. Well - the availability argument is definitely true. I mean, if I go to Strawberries I'll definitely find a CD with Nine Inch Nails' "The Mark Has Been Made," live. No, hm, I can't seem to find it there... well I'll definitely never find it on Kaz- oh wait, here it is. Hm.