The RIAA's Push for an Audio Broadcast Flag 374
aaronsorkin writes "The Recording Industry Association of America has discovered that digital radio broadcasts can be copied and redistributed over the Internet, and so it is pushing the FCC to adopt an audio broadcast flag, which would likely prevent users from sending copyrighted radio programs over the Internet. But it could also hamstring other legitimate uses by preventing a digital radio program from leaving the device on which it was recorded. The FCC has initiated a notice of inquiry (pdf), typically a step leading to formal rule-making. The public may submit comments to the FCC between June 16 and July 16. A lobbyist friend sent me copies of the private correspondence on the subject between RIAA president Cary Sherman and Consumer Electronics Association president Gary Shapiro, and Cryptome just posted them here (pdf) and here (pdf). Yes, they're legit. Mindjack just posted an article I wrote on the subject titled, 'Will Digital Radio Be Napsterized?'"
Evil bit... (Score:5, Funny)
This will just keep getting worse (Score:2, Funny)
"So, I says to my pal Vinny here, that I didn't think yer MCL (Music Creation License) was quite.. shall we say... up to snuff."
"Hehe, ya... snuff!"
"Quiet! Anyways, I was thinkin... Maybe if ye wanted to help us out, wese could maybe help you out. Vinny and I were really looking to find some of those Internet Terrorists, you knows... the ones that download YOUR music without paying US first? And if you could maybe point a few out, we could get that whole MCL cleared up, capeche?"
Re:Flag (Score:4, Funny)
I like it (Score:2, Funny)
It's like salt for music. You don't have to have it, it's just better with it.
In other news today ... (Score:3, Funny)
The emails, stored in a digital format known as PDF (which the RIAA maintains is yet another tool used exclusively by online hackers and pirates for the sole purpose of stealing IP), while not normally covered by copyright, were in this case earmarked by RIAA president Cary Sherman for use in his new book: Digital Stranglehold - a Step-by-Step Guide to Forcefully Prevent Any Exchange of Audio Information Whatsoever in the New Millenium - or - How to Ram the Buttplug of DRM Further up the American Consumer's Ass.
It's just like a game of Illuminati (Score:4, Funny)
The FCC is controlled by the Supreme Court, which is controlled Bavarian Illuminati.
RIAA is controlled by Cthulhu.
RIAA with the assistance of Cthulhu will attempt to control the FCC... and they're bidding tons of megabucks.
-The Libra
"You've got no kids, no wife, no job, and you're not in The Tigger Movie!!!"
- my best friend's son, Gabe, at 5 years old. [everything2.com]
The next logical step: (Score:5, Funny)
All audio/video devices will have to be able to broadcast the memory flag. Only individuals who have had the necessary surgery (elective, not typically covered by insurance) will be able to actually view such content. Depending on the decision of the content provider, the content might almost immediately disappear from a person's memory, be a faint memory driving the repurchase of an opportunity to see/hear it again, or could be lodged so firmly in their brain of the end-user that they will have to pay extra to get rid of it.
All your radio... (Score:5, Funny)
Slash-Dot: Somebody set up us the Broadcast Flag.
Slash-Dot: We get SUED.
Consumers: What!
Slash-Dot: Main screen turn on.
Consumers: It's You!!
RIAA: How are you gentlemen!!
RIAA: All your radio are belong to us.
RIAA: Your fair use rights are on the way to destruction.
Consumers: What you say!!
RIAA: Your rights have no chance to survive make your time.
RIAA: HA HA HA HA!
RIAA: Sue you all
Consumers: You know what you doing.
RIAA: Landsharks, engage
Consumers: For great justice.
RIAA taking over word of mouth (Score:3, Funny)
Next on in the future news!
Re:Evil bit... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Evil bit... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:easy to bypass (Score:2, Funny)
Of course, it also means the radio becomes a pain to listen to also.
So there you have it. Mess up the sound quality and reduce the playlist down to three songs just for good measure. If that doesn't work then also employ talkative DJs who only play half the record and talk over the other half.
Really this broadcast flag is for our protection so we don't download songs that are such poor quality on the P2P networks. That would be worse than that "white noise" trick.
Re:RIAA taking over word of mouth (Score:1, Funny)
Here . . . (Score:3, Funny)
Recording Industry Association of America has discovered that digital radio broadcasts can be copied and redistributed over the Internet
I'm trying to imagine that moment when they "discovered" this . . . Did they honestly just not know? "Gee, we're sending them a stream of data that gets played automatically. Those stupid end users will never think to *save* that data!"
Re:Another useless "feature" (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Foolish. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Anybody Remember DivX Discs? (Score:1, Funny)
no-one would buy a movie that they couldn't lend to their Mom
Hmmm, I've got plenty of movies that I wouldn't lend to Mom...
Re:Lets have a digital flag burning (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Another useless "feature" (Score:3, Funny)
C'mon, break the law.. we know you already are, only now we have some extra tools at our disposal to kick your ass.
Meanwhile there's 12 squad cars with radar guns hiding behind that barn on the horizon. Or in case of the RIAA, its a gang of laywers who already have the suits prepared, mad-lib style.
the culprit? Windows (Score:2, Funny)
they should go after Microsoft for providing the general public with THE MAIN tool used for evil pirating.
And pirated copies of windows? again done on WINDOWS boxes, MS could stop almost all pirating if they would just pull this hacker tool off the shelf.
And PC suppliers should also be held accountable for pre-installing a PIRATE TOOL on every box. those bastards!
Re:Song of the piracy apologist (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Reminds me of Atlas Shrugged (Score:1, Funny)
Yes.
No.