Analog Hole Legislation Formally Introduced

phaedo00 writes "Ars Technica is covering a recent bit of legislation introduced to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee this past week. The laws would seek to close the 'Analog Hole' that serves as a sort of last-ditch pirating mechanism when corporate DRM goes all crazy and tramples on your fair-use rights: 'Calling the ability to convert analog video content to a digital format a significant technical weakness in content protection, H.R. 4569 would require all consumer electronics video devices manufactured more than 12 months after the DTCSA is passed to be able to detect and obey a rights signaling system that would be used to limit how content is viewed and used. That rights signaling system would consist of two DRM technologies, Video Encoded Invisible Light (VEIL) and Content Generation Management System--Analog (CGMS-A), which would be embedded in broadcasts and other analog video content.'" We've previously covered this bill.

Comments

Re:Not flamebait

[hey!]

For all you Bush-haters, this is not a rant about Bush, because he has zero power to pass laws.

Technically speaking, sure, except you can't ignore the way everybody parrots exactly the same talking points with almost verbatim the same words.

The basic political/media strategy of the Republican party is to win the debate by defining the terms used in the debate. This requires a great deal of cooperation and coordination between leading party members and their media flunkies. The aparachniks must be coordinate from somewhere. Currently this is the White House.

The more abstract an issue is to people the better this works. Gay Marriage, DRM, these things don't really mean anything concrete in most people's daily lives. In any debate where you have to start by educating the public, a coordinated media effort beats accuracy. Issues with real and concrete impact on people's lives, such as gas prices, can't be controlled this way.

I think unless it is largely wrapped up within the next year, the war will be the issue that will break the back of this strategy. Before a war starts, it is an abstraction. Afterwards, it becomes undeniably concrete to more and more people. As an American, I think we should get out of there quickly. However if we don't, although our national interests will suffer greatly, and many indiviiduals and families will suffer unspeakably, it will be a blow against American fascism.