This is incredible... if this goes on, we'll have essentially surrendered a veto power on new technology to the "content industry". And I can add nothing to what the noted scifi author Robert A Heinlein said about such attempts:
There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country the notion that because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with the duty of guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest. This strange doctrine is not supported by statute or common law. Neither individuals nor corporations have any right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back.
Ars Technica is reporting that the EFF has dug up plans by the RIAA/MPAA to stifle the consumer electronics market by replacing it's "fair use" policy with something called "Customary Historic Use". This new policy would effectively keep anyone from inventing any new type of media device without the RIAA/MPAA's say-so.
/Copywrongs | 1 writeback | permanent link
On 1/22/2006 11:37:09
Walter Jeffries wrote
comment...