Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Congress, the MPAA and the Broadcast Flag
Posted by James Fee in "ARTICLE" @ 08:00 AM
"On May 26, my friend and former colleague, Dan Glickman, of the Motion Picture Association of America, made the case for Congress enacting legislation to ratify the Federal Communication Commission's broadcast flag rule, which the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit struck down in early May. Mr. Glickman asked the rhetorical question: "So why should I care about a so-called broadcast flag regulation? The answer is simple. I want to make certain that the American people will continue to have the opportunity to see our movies and television shows on free television in the digital age." For me, the answer to his rhetorical question is simple as well: If the MPAA expects Congress to ratify a rule that would limit the ability of ordinary consumers to share lawfully acquired digital broadcast television programs with one another, then it shouldn't be surprised if Congress insists that the MPAA accept in return a restoration of the fair use rights taken from consumers through the enactment of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)."
Usually I'm not to hopeful that the U.S. Congress be up on consumers rights as they always seem to side with corporations, but I'm hopeful that with the broadcast flag they will considering how some congressmen do get it.
Usually I'm not to hopeful that the U.S. Congress be up on consumers rights as they always seem to side with corporations, but I'm hopeful that with the broadcast flag they will considering how some congressmen do get it.
