Audio Broadcast Flag Introduced in Congress

Declan McCullagh writes "We found out in mid-2004 that the RIAA was lobbying the FCC for an audio version of the broadcast flag. But because a federal appeals court slapped down the FCC's video version last year, the RIAA needs to seek formal authorization from Congress. That process finally began today when the audio flag bill was introduced. It would hand the FCC the power to set standards and regulate digital and satellite radio receivers, and RIAA Chairman Mitch Bainwol says it strikes "a balance that's good for the music, good for the fans, and good for business." The text of the bill is available online."

Comments

Re:Bad for consumers and business

[HTH NE1]

(2) shall not make obsolete any devices already manufactured and distributed in the marketplace before the implementation of such regulations

So after the implementation of such regulations they can be made obsolete?

You gotta love ambiguity in the language used to craft law.

Seriously, you are legally mandated to love the ambiguity. You don't want to know the penalties for not loving the ambiguity.

Seriously, the penalties are a matter of national security and you do not want to know them. The penalties for knowing them are worse than the aforementioned penalties themselves, so you really don't want to know any of them.

Re:One word

[Firehed]

Only if by "fans" they mean... uhh... nope, nevermind. Only business applies. When the Asshat Association of America can convince me that not being able to listen to my overpriced music is good for me, I'll reconsider. Till then, I'll take money that I would have bought CDs with and donate it to everone's favorite Swedish website.

You reading this RIAA? Fuck you. We are not encouraged to pay for music by these actions. In trying to stop piracy, you are in fact encouraging it. Get your act together, because if you want to stay in business, you need to think "entertainment business" not "CD business". Stop gouging the bejesus out of us and we won't have to download it questionably. Piracy gets easier every day, but listening to legally purchased music gets harder by the day. Maybe if you can make it so it's not a pain in the ass to listen to our purchased music when it's so much easier (and cheaper) to download it and put it on any player we want, we'll start paying again. Why is iTunes hugely successful when CD sales are plummeting? It's easy and it's at a much more reasonable price. So cut your fucking losses and deal with it, not screw over your actual customers.