After my post two days ago, “How Business Has Gone Mad“, I decided to support the Electronic Frontier Foundation by placing the CAFE (Campaign for Audiovisual Free Expression) Logo and link on my Blog.
If anyone feels the same way I do, they should spend some time reading their site. Of interest is their recent Blog article about the Motion Picture Association of America’s (MPAA) “Content Protection Status Report”.
To boil this article down, it explains how the MPAA’s report suggests the U.S. Government make it a requirement that all electronic devices are unable to record copyright material (music, images, movies, etc.). However, this requirement will impact the most basic functionality of those devices. Examples they use range from a mobile phone failing if your in ear shot of copyright music, like that playing on the radio in the background. To missing the ability to record your baby’s first steps because he/she walks in front of the TV.
I’d like to again point out that this type of activity hinders innovation. Some of the most exciting technologies today, such as the Internet, DVD, Digital Video Cameras, Mobile Phones, Digital Video Recorders (e.g. : TiVo), P2P, etc. will all be effected. How marvelous would it be to video a special moment, connect to a P2P network via a mobile phone and share the event with friends and family in real time. This is a basic example of the type of feature that is discouraged by this report because it frowns on the ability to share digital content. There are limitless examples if business could open its minds to future possiblities.
EFF believe :
1. Piracy of an artist’s work is illegal. Fair use is not.
2. We have the right to hear, speak, learn, sing, think, watch, and be heard.
3. No one should assume by default that we’re criminals, and the technology we use shouldn’t do so either.
4. We have a right to use technology to shift time & space.
