Vote BOTH these jerks OUT OF OFFICE!!
“Analog hole” legislation introduced — the analog or “A” hole. I’m reading this thinking this is a hoax, right? But apparently not. Can I ask a simply question to the voters of Wisconisin and Michigan? Do you elect guys who represnet YOU or who represent Hollywood interests that are against YOUR interests. Wait, let me put this more succinctly. You are complete idiots to have these two a-holes represent you? Just wondering.
A frightening bit of legislation was introduced to the US House Judiciary Committee on Friday. The Digital Transition Content Security Act of 2005 (PDF) is sponsored by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) (PDF) and would close that pesky analog hole that poses such a dire threat to the survival of the music and movie industries. The bill was originally planned for introduction in early November, but was tabled after hearings held by the House Subcomittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.
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 SystemAnalog (CGMS-A), which would be embedded in broadcasts and other analog video content.
Under the legislation, all devices sold in the US would fall under the auspices of the DTCSA: it would be illegal to “manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide or otherwise traffic” in such products. It’s a dream-come-true for Hollywood, and in combination with a new broadcast flag legislation (not yet introduced) would strike a near-fatal blow to the long-established right of Fair Use.
related information
Press contacts for these two jerks
Jeff Lungren/Terry Shawn (Sensenbrenner)
202-225-2492
Dena Graziano (Conyers)
202-226-6888
found by Mike Voice
They only need votes from their districts. Most Americans are oblivious to this type of thing. As long as their cable/satillite box turns on they’re happy. Most of us that enjoy/follow technology often forget that we’re in a small minority. Most of the people I know have no idea what a TIVO really does.
If those nitwits in the entertainment industry thing we really *need* their wares, they’re in for a hard time. Once they make it difficult to watch their programs and movies, people will find other uses for their time.
I know I certainly will. I can really get into a program but being able to record it if I can’t watch when it’s broadcast really feeds the process. If they thing I’m going to start to arrange my schedule around the TV Guide, they’re in for a big surprise.
It’s easy to be hypnotized by television…but the spell can be broken.
I have a DVR supplied by my cable company. Right now, I can keep any program I record on it for as long as I like. One of the proposals out there is to limit how long programs will stay recorded, even if unwatched. I travel a lot for business, sometimes gone for two weeks or more. If they start limiting my programs to less than a week, I’m screwed.
Paul: How’s this all for a restriction of freedoms issue? We went from unrestricted recording of anything for personal use 20 years ago when VCRs appeared to increasing Congressional restrictions (in this one case, a very staunch Repub who should be against gov intrusion into people’s lives. I guess only when they don’t interfere with freedom for businesses to make more money.) asked for by Hollywood on how, when and where we can record things which are either freely broadcast over the air or which we pay for via cable/satellite fees.
We are entering the era of the 99 cent television program format along with subscription satellite radio. I have better stuff to do. If it works with an antenna, I tune it in. If it doesn’t I’m careless about it. The antenna is the future. Food is my dish.
These morons say one thing to get voted and changes once they got elected and start to taking bribes. There should be recalls for these two!
If this legislation passes, there will be a tremendous black market in uncrippled DVR’s. People will be going to Canada and elsewhere to buy them. You know that other countries won’t pass such silly legislation, so it will be a free-for-all in buying uncrippled devices across the borders. There will also be a big market for people who can build their own uncrippled boxes, such as Myth TV boxes. I know I’ll build one for myself.
Let us all get things straight here…. if everybody (I mean everybody) abided by the fair use doctrine, there wouldn’t need to be any new legislation or technology to enforce it (or something even more draconian)…
The fact is that digital technology DOES impact intellectual property, and can/does affect the revenue to the copywrite holders…
The problem with the non-hollywood (etc) types that say that the media business is infringing on their rights, is that they have NO real ideas on what to do about the problem. All these whiners have to say is what everybody else shouldn’t do (no copy protection, no usb keys, etc. etc.). And when current laws are enforced (ie: the grandmother whose PC is filled with pirated music), it gets turned around as the jack-booted authorities hurting a lilttle old lady….
So, you all want to complain about copy protection, what’s your alternative?
Conyers is my representative. He’s been in office as long as I can remember. I probably voted for him a few times. He’ll retire or die in office, since he’s as permanent a fixture in SE Michigan as Lake Erie. As long as a politician pays lip service to local issues (Coyers is going to save the auto industry. Wowie!), s/he’ll be re-elected forever. If they can make a few bucks from some other interest group along the way, so much the better — as long as it isn’t a hot issue at home.
This is a response to comment #8 by “Lou.” Get your facts straight. You’ve obviously fallen victim to the media conglomerate propoganda. The entertainment industry estimates they lose *$3 billion* (gasp!) to “copyright infringement” each year. Wow. That’s a lot of money, and a huge problem that we need to do something about right now. Until you realize that in 2004, the entertainment industry took in *$525 billion*. By 2009, it’s estimated to grow to $690 billion. So they’re losing about one penny for every two dollars they take in. Do you really believe that justifies giving them control over how you’re able to use the technology you purchase? When you say that “The problem with these ‘non-Hollywood’ types is that they have NO real ideas on what to do about the problem,” you’ve bought into the media industry lie that a “problem” even exists. The only “problem” is that they don’t have absolute control over what you watch and how you choose to watch it. I don’t know whether you’re a schill for the entertainment industry, or simply completely ignorant of the facts, but to answer your question (because I do complain about copy protection, or anything that gives control over how I use technology that *I* purchase to an outside industry driven by abject greed), my alternative is to pass a law that protects consumers from these greedy control freaks. Or here’s another alternative: maybe Congress could do it’s job (protecting the interests of the public) instead of “protecting” whoever ponies up the right amount of cash to get their pet laws passed.
The main question that comes to mind is WHY are these two sponsoring this bill?
Follow the money.
Take a look at campaign contributions from the Entertainment industry.
I researched this a year or so ago when the Berman-Conyers bill was big news. (it basically made ait a crime to do any file sharing)
Conyers is the democratic leader of the House Judiciary committee. Gee, guess what they are in charge of? Entertainment law.
Guess what is the number one campaign contributor to Sensenbrenner? And Number two to Conyers? Entertainment industry
go to http://www.fecinfo.com
go to http://www.fecinfo.com
Conyers’ district for the most, isn’t very tech saavy (apologies to the exceptions). The district is just northwest of downtown Detroit, including Hamtown and Highland park. As Don stated above, these people will vote the incumbant every time; especially if there is that ‘D’ next to his name.
Also remember, these are the same voters that re-elected hizzoner, Kwame Kilpatrick.
Lou, it’s all about rights.
I record television programs when I’m not home so I can still watch them. This is a legal use of technology confirmed by the courts. Why should I be subject to restrictive measures taken because other people break the law?
I wonder if you’d so easily trumpet the entertainment megacorporations if police decided crime was too high and imposed a curfew. Perhaps they’d also stop people on the street at their whim and demand to see your papers. Please don’t resort to the old saw that if you had nothing to hide there would be no problem. It’s not what you’re hiding, but rather a matter of rights. Copy protection is the electronic equivalent. It gets in the way of the lawful user while the serious criminal has easy ways around it.
Piss off the legions of lawful users who pay for the product and there will soon be no users buying. It’s a hard lesson the industry will learn.
>if police decided crime was too high and imposed a curfew. Perhaps they’d also stop people on the street at their whim and demand to see your papers.
That’s basically waht Giuliani did in New York. Stop and frisk searches, and a total crackdown on petty crimes like graffiti, subway jumping, and squeegee men.
I think Lou’s point is that people seem eager to allow for all sorts of illegal piracy and are coming up with excuses to defend it(I neef to be able to make some extra copies for myself, etc) If you’re going to mainstream criminal behavior, then you shouldn’t be surprised if it gets treated that way.
This just came up on the Detroit Free Press RSS:
Full Article here… http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051222/NEWS11/51222006/1013/RSS07