Something for Congress to stick in its analog hole and smoke

ZDnet ^ | January 4, 2006 | Posted by David Berlind

[unseen]

Neuros Technology International CEO Joe Born in his open letter to congressmen James Sensenbrenner Jr. and John Conyers on HR 4569, the Digital Transition Content Security Act (aka: Analog Hole Legislation):

…we believe the proposed bill will not only do nothing to protect against piracy, it will actually reduce legitimate media sales, unnecessarily harm consumers, and have a chilling effect on innovators of new media technologies…Today, we make a next generation digital VCR of sorts that would effectively be outlawed if HR 4569 becomes law….This device is meant to make it easier for consumers to adapt content they have already obtained legitimately for use on portable video devices….Congress' desire to protect and support the important entertainment industry against pirates is laudable, but consumer rights and the rights of technology holders do not need to be trampled in the process….history has shown that if they are once again unsuccessful in holding back the tide of advancing technology, they will once again be the beneficiaries of their own failure.

Go Joe. You go.

PS: I know the proposed bill is for video. But, what about audio? If I'm not mistaken, the only way to really close the analog hole for audio is to build a new type of digital speaker…. one that has the digital rights management technology built right into the cones. Is that possible? Could an audio derivative of this bill be next and could some technology company be the beneficiary? How would all the traditional hi-fi companies that specialize in speaker technology (like Boston Acoustics) feel about that?

[unseen]

With HR 4569 Congress is now trying to take away your right to legally copy your favorite program and watch it whenever you want to. Tivo will be required to delete your show 90 MINUTES after it finishs taping. If you want to watch it later you will have to pay for a download. Does this make anyone else angry? Enough is enough with DRM. Innovation is suffering, Big Media is gaining complete control over all forms of communication. This bill has far reaching implications not just for TV shows but for governmental control. Call you Cngressman had tell them in no uncertain terms to back off.

[martin_fierro]

Born invented the SkipDoctor. < /uselesstrivia >

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

But, what about audio? If I'm not mistaken, the only way to really close the analog hole for audio is to build a new type of digital speaker…. one that has the digital rights management technology built right into the cones.

Not likely. A speaker is, at it's most basic, nothing more than a DC motor. A coil receives pulses of current...positive and negative...that move the cones in the appropriate direction. There is not and never will be anything digital about it.
Unless a completely new type of speaker is designed with a DRM processing gateway in it to allow or disallow DC current to flow to the coil. And that's just plain old stupid.
But since Congress is involved.....hmmmm. Stupid sounds about right.

[unseen]

but if the speakers are wireless...hmmmm those could be problem. But regardless if speakers can or can't be made to follow this law, the law itself is a flawed piece of crap. I remember the Republican running on the concept of free enterprise and deregulation. This law is nothing short of regulating the entire electronic industry. This would stifle innovation, create monopolies due to the studios and RIAA license agreements that would need to be made, increase the average cost of all electronic equipment to the consumer, stifle debate in society, close numerous avenues of learning etc etc all so that a couple of Congressman can continue to receive campaign contributions (.i.e. bribes) I hope people throw the bums out both Democrats and Republicans come Nov.

[weegee]

It is contrary to all previous interpretations of the Constitution and flies in the face of "fair use" and "public domain" provisions of the First Amendment.

Throw out the unconstitutional digital copyright act. If not we surely will have the best government that money can BUY.

[unseen]

agree DMCA is another piece of crap bill that the entertainment industry bought (it does nothing to prevent priacy). It constantly amazes me that the people allow the government to sell their rights to the highest bidders and then do NOTHING about it because "everyone knows it is Congress not my Congressman or Senator" when will people wake up!. their Congressman and Senator are the problem as much as mine is. To vote for any incumbent in Congress is to vote approval on the ALL the stuff that goes on in Washington. DMCA should be repealed and HR4569 should be torn up and place on the fire where it belongs

[1FASTGLOCK45]

Thankyou for sharing this information with us.

[SunkenCiv]

Congress' desire to protect and support the important entertainment industry

...has nothing whatever to do with the partisan Dhimmicrat support from Hellyweird, I'm sure...

[Delta 21]

Somebody ping AlGore. All this comlicated intraweb mumbo-jumbo is confusing to me.

/cavemanlawyer

[dervish]

If Hollywood didn't make almost all leftist junk they might have a bigger audience. I can't go to the movies anymore.

Leave my TIVO alone!

[unseen]

http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/entry/1902/is_the_analog

read this and see what is really going on with your tivo.