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RIAA Trying to Copy-Protect Radio
doctorfaustus writes "The EFF is reporting that "the RIAA has been pushing the FCC to impose a copy-protection mandate on the makers of next-generation digital radio receiver/recorders (think TiVo-for-radio)." According to Mike Godwin, "Never mind that digital audio broadcasting is not significantly greater in quality than regular, analog radio. Never mind that its music quality is vastly less than than that of audio CDs. In spite of these inconvenient facts, the RIAA is hoping that the transition to "digital audio broadcasting" will provide enough confusion and panic that they can persuade Congress or the FCC to impose some kind of copy-protection scheme or regulation on digital radio broadcast." "
Well, yes, but those fair use priveleges exist by statute. (And they are privileges, not "rights".) Hence, the RIAA wants the statutes changed.
If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.
Somewhat off topic, but you should always have a radio (battery or hand crank charge...) in your home for emergency information.
WRONG!...not about the viability of radio...bad programming still equates to no listeners, but about "Let the DRM everything valuable to them."
The law states that we can record radio/tv broadcasts. Quietly acquiescing to mandate DRM (even on a media that doesn't interest you personally) effective repeals fair use law and restricts your rights. This is a very bad precedent to allow.
Dave