Mandatory DRM for Podcasts Proposed

Knytefall writes "Joe Biden, Dianne Feinstein, and two GOP senators are sponsoring a bill called the PERFORM Act that would require podcasts with music and satellite radio to be locked-up with music industry-approved DRM software. From the article: 'All audio services — Webcasters included — would be obligated to implement "reasonably available and economically reasonable" copy-protection technology aimed at preventing "music theft" and restricting automatic recording.'"

The REAL Reason behind DRM'd Podcasts...

[andrewd18]

I get it... By making everyone use DRM on their podcasts, each terrorist will have to legitimately purchase Osama Bin Laden's podcasts off of iTunes, thus driving up the price of terrorism!

Brilliant!

What's that Spell?

[sweatyboatman]

The PERFORM Act, or the "Platform Equality and Remedies for Rights Holders in Music Act,"

Um... I believe that's the PERRHM Act. Not as catchy, although cat lovers might take to it. The proposed legislation makes zero sense so therefore the acronym makes zero sense. Why have an acronym? Call it the Eliminate Free Internet Radio Act. Or just Yet Another Gift to Our Large and All-Powerful Contributors Act.

Sigh.

-tom

Re:copyleft?

[LiquidCoooled]

"Welcome to my podcast.
"Before getting to the music, you have to listen to this GPL license.

*mad llama rant*

"If you do not agree to the license, please stop the tape and listen to something else instead.

Re:Completely ludicrous

[garcia]

They are talking about XM radios that allow you to record the content. Are they going to demand that all audio recording devices use DRM to disable people from recording and redistributing this content? This is nothing more than a direct protection of the RIAA cronies by the government to try and hassle Sat radio.

Fuck, we should really mandate all line-in, cassette recorders, and DAT recorders have this technology retroactively installed. We wouldn't want this precious content being recorded by those means!

Report for retroactive DRM installation immediately!

Re:Don't they

[rossz]

I've made it a standard practice to vote for whomever is running against Feinstein. I can't stand that bitch. In fact, I'd vote for a hard core communist if he ran against her. At least the commie would be honest about what he is, unlike Feinstein who pretends to have our best interest at heart, but is obviously bought and paid for by several special interest groups (the RIAA being one of them).

The basic problem with California is it's about equally divided between ultra-left and moderate/right. The left being concentrated in the big cities (San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc), and the right spread out across the rest of the state. The ultra-left usually has a slight edge when it comes to votes. I'd love for us to elect a couple of moderate demos OR republicans. Either is good, so long as they are moderate.

Oh, and someone please do us a favor and nuke Berkeley into a glass parking lot. I used to go there all the time to visit a certain book store (Another Change of Hobbit), but I avoid the place now as I end up wanting to beat the crap out of far too many assholes hanging out in the streets there.

Re:What's that Spell?

[Gryle]

Because EFIRA and YAGOLAPCA aren't catchy acronyms. Although they sound like catchy names for D&D characters.

Re:Completely ludicrous

[UbuntuDupe]

Actually, if they're really serious about this, they have to somehow block people from, as you say, recording and re-distributing. So, what they should be asking for is funds to research how to DRM compression waves (i.e., sound waves).

OK thats easy...

[JustNiz]

>> would be obligated to implement "reasonably available and economically reasonable" copy-protection technology aimed at preventing "music theft.

I propose ROT-13. Its free and easily available.

Re:Completely ludicrous

[antarctican]

Actually, if they're really serious about this, they have to somehow block people from, as you say, recording and re-distributing. So, what they should be asking for is funds to research how to DRM compression waves (i.e., sound waves).

Well it seems the logical way of implementing such a scheme is direct implants in to everyone's ear drums. If the implant detects any illegal music or noise, your ears turn off.

That'd certainly make electronics manufacturing simpler. The next phase could be for ocular implants.

Re:Completely ludicrous

[Anonymous Coward]

Will it also become illegal for a band to freely distribute music on their own website?

No, never. Record industry has no motivation whatsoever to prohibit perfectly acceptable deeds that just happen to a) eat their profits b) threaten to make them obsolete.
Are you paranoid or what?

Re:Completely ludicrous

[dustman]

Just imagine if you are filming your best friend's wedding, some joker walks by with his jukebox--maybe not even audiable enough for you to notice, but loud enough for the system to detect it, and the watermarking causes your camera to stop recording.

If the camera had stopped recording, My best friend's wedding [imdb.com] would have been much improved.

Re:Completely ludicrous

[Nethead]

So, to disable the cameras at the next bank I hold up.....

Re:Thank God The Democrats Are Here to Protect US

[Procyon101]

If we got the government out of marriage, what would the mainstream parties have to fight about at the expense of the gays?!? Common sense only leads to having to focus on real problems, and no one wants that!

Re:What were we supposed to do in November?

[meringuoid]

* To avoid a slander lawsuit, I note that the misspelling of "mafia" with an additional "a" is intentional and is a known term on this discussion forum. It does not mean the Cosa Nostra.

Unnecessary. The Mafia don't sue for slander. If you've upset them they'll deal with you through different channels.