*sigh*
You can only say "who the fuck do they think they are??" so many times.
Let's get to it. Who here thinks Rupert Murdoch needs more control over what we see and hear? Who thinks we need to give him and the government control over what we see and hear inside our own homes???
As we continue walking down the warm and fuzzy path to our Orwellian demise, let's stop and rest and maybe take some pictures at this wonderful scenic vista. Oops, we can't, not anymore at least. Our metaphorical camera has the new government chip, and since NewsCorp owns the land, they are broadcasting the "you can't record or store this information in any way" signal and we are shit out of luck.
If you didn't follow my crazy little story there, let me spell this one out. Technological innovation continues to be lobbied against and crushed at every level of our government. High definition television heralded a new era for mankind. It's the penultimate step in visual entertainment, and it's been a long time coming. There's a new push for digital rights and licenses for all HD programming, which means that even if you wanted to record an episode of your favorite show for personal use, you can't. Kiss your TiVo goodbye, folks.
Allow me to take some highlights.
"Past generations of media activists protested government and industry control of TV content. They battled FCC censorship, denounced market grabs by massive content conglomerates like News Corp., whose bland, mainstream programming turned a diverse media landscape into The O'Reilly Factor and 7th Heaven reruns."
"After the mandate goes into effect July 1, it will be illegal for anyone in the United States to manufacture a device that records high-definition television unless it's built to obey a special signal – the flag – emitted by stations broadcasting HD shows."
"Let's say, for example, that it's a couple of years from now, and your TiVo (bought anytime after July 1 of this year) has recorded the excellent Marx brothers movie Animal Crackers, which was just broadcast on TNT in HD. Tomorrow you're getting on a plane to Australia, and you'd like to save a copy on DVD to watch on your computer during the 15-hour flight.
You're entitled to make a personal copy under federal copyright law, so it should be no problem. And in fact, it was no problem back in the days of analog broadcasts and VCRs. But with the Broadcast Flag in place, TNT can send out a signal that tells your TiVo not to make HD copies of Animal Crackers. So when you burn that DVD and put it into your computer somewhere over the Pacific, you get a bunch of garbage. The FCC has just stolen your rights."
I call bullshit.
Let's get to it. Who here thinks Rupert Murdoch needs more control over what we see and hear? Who thinks we need to give him and the government control over what we see and hear inside our own homes???
As we continue walking down the warm and fuzzy path to our Orwellian demise, let's stop and rest and maybe take some pictures at this wonderful scenic vista. Oops, we can't, not anymore at least. Our metaphorical camera has the new government chip, and since NewsCorp owns the land, they are broadcasting the "you can't record or store this information in any way" signal and we are shit out of luck.
If you didn't follow my crazy little story there, let me spell this one out. Technological innovation continues to be lobbied against and crushed at every level of our government. High definition television heralded a new era for mankind. It's the penultimate step in visual entertainment, and it's been a long time coming. There's a new push for digital rights and licenses for all HD programming, which means that even if you wanted to record an episode of your favorite show for personal use, you can't. Kiss your TiVo goodbye, folks.
Allow me to take some highlights.
"Past generations of media activists protested government and industry control of TV content. They battled FCC censorship, denounced market grabs by massive content conglomerates like News Corp., whose bland, mainstream programming turned a diverse media landscape into The O'Reilly Factor and 7th Heaven reruns."
"After the mandate goes into effect July 1, it will be illegal for anyone in the United States to manufacture a device that records high-definition television unless it's built to obey a special signal – the flag – emitted by stations broadcasting HD shows."
"Let's say, for example, that it's a couple of years from now, and your TiVo (bought anytime after July 1 of this year) has recorded the excellent Marx brothers movie Animal Crackers, which was just broadcast on TNT in HD. Tomorrow you're getting on a plane to Australia, and you'd like to save a copy on DVD to watch on your computer during the 15-hour flight.
You're entitled to make a personal copy under federal copyright law, so it should be no problem. And in fact, it was no problem back in the days of analog broadcasts and VCRs. But with the Broadcast Flag in place, TNT can send out a signal that tells your TiVo not to make HD copies of Animal Crackers. So when you burn that DVD and put it into your computer somewhere over the Pacific, you get a bunch of garbage. The FCC has just stolen your rights."
I call bullshit.
posted by dasfsdf at 11:39 AM
10 comments
