David Berlind nicely summarizes the DRM (Digital Restrictions Morass) that plagues mainstream electronic media supported by big money politics and the likes of our own Jim Sensenbrenner and Michigan’s John Conyers.
Category: Electronic Rights
Our Tax Dollars at Work
The Digital Transition Content Security Act would embed anticopying technology into the next generation of digital video products. If it makes its way from Capitol Hill to the Oval Office and becomes law, the measure will outlaw the manufacture or sale of electronic devices that convert analog video signals into digital video signals, effective one year from its enactment. PC-based tuners and digital video recorders are listed among the devices.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner Jr., a Wisconsin Republican, introduced the bill, which is backed by Democratic Rep. John Conyers. Sensenbrenner’s goal is to protect analog content from theft, which has been made easier in the wake of the transition to digital technologies.
This is obviously an important issue for Sensenbrenner’s constituents…. (and Conyer’s Michigan voters). The power of money.
Tommy Thompson Delays Getting ID Chip Implanted
Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson seems to be in no rush to be implanted with an ID chip, as he told interviewers he would in July.
A TV network recently interviewed Thompson, a former U.S. secretary of health and human services, after he was named to the board of directors of VeriChip, which sells a radio-frequency ID chip that can be implanted under the skin. The chips alarms privacy advocates who worry whether government and corporations will abuse the technology.
Rice on Internet Governance
The Internet will reach its full potential as a medium and facilitator for global economic expansion and development in an environment free from burdensome intergovernmental oversight and control. The success of the Internet lies in its inherently decentralized nature, with the most significant growth taking place at the outer edges of the network through innovative new applications and services. Burdensome, bureaucratic oversight is out of place in an Internet structure that has worked so well for many around the globe. We regret the recent positions on Internet governance (i.e., the “new cooperation model”) offered by the European Union, the Presidency of which is currently held by the United Kingdom, seems to propose just that – a new structure of intergovernmental control over the Internet.
Coming to TV: Ads About You
hen you watch your favourite program in the not-too-distant future, your TV could be watching back.
Cable companies are preparing to install software on digital set-top boxes that will keep track of everything you watch. Coupling that information with your address, the software would estimate your age, gender, interests and income.
The result? Advertisers could send different commercials to different viewers.
Tracking You: TIVO & RFID
“working on a PVR that will recognise one of several individual users, and respond to their personal preferences.” The patent application describes the invention as “a multimedia mobile personalization system provides a remote control that detects a user’s electronic tag, e.g. an RFID tag.” It also promises personalized viewing at a variety of locations, detailing how TiVo might forward stored shows from home to a TV in a hotel room, for example. It remains to be seen whether hotels will be eager to help TiVo undermine their pay-per-view video revenue.”
The EFF and Google’s AutoLink (AdLink)
There are many positive aspects to the EFF’s work.
However and unfortunately, they have been silent (or apparently supportive) on Google’s land grab as Dave Winer points out this morning. More from Dave on the Google Toolbar
Google’s toolbar places their links on top of the original author’s hyperlinks (“Autolink”).
I’ve not been a financial supporter since the EFF remained silent on the AutoLink “feature”. Ironically, as Google Watch points out, the guy behind Microsoft’s similar scheme “Smart Tags” now works for Google.
I wonder how far Google will push the envelope when they have to support their sky high 117B market valuation (P/E of 88.6!)?
The Wedding EULA
Christina Aguilera required the 150 guests at her wedding to sign a three-page confidentiality agreement before they were allowed into the event. “Banned subjects included the cake, the rings, entertainment, speeches, food, the venue and other guests.”
I wonder if her pre-nup has a non-compete?
Senate Committee Passes Anti-Spyware Bill
A U.S. Senate committee has approved a bill that would outlaw the practice of remotely installing software that collects a computer users’ personal information without consent.
In addition to prohibiting spyware, the Spyblock (Software Principles Yielding Better Levels of Consumer Knowledge) Act would also outlaw the installation of adware programs without a computer user’s permission. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved the bill Thursday.
Spyblock, sponsored by Senator Conrad Burns, a Montana Republican, would prohibit hackers from remotely taking over a computer and prohibit programs that hijack Web browsers. The bill would protect antispyware software vendors from being sued by companies whose software they block.
FEC Rules Bloggers are Journalists
Federal Election Commission (PDF):
We are responding to your advisory opinion request on behalf of Fired Up! LLC (“Fired Up”), concerning the application of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the “Act”), and Commission regulations to certain Internet websites owned and operated by Fired Up.
The Commission concludes that the costs Fired Up incurs in covering or carrying news stories, commentary, or editorials on its websites are encompassed by the press exception, and therefore do not constitute “expenditures” or “contributions” under the Act and Commission regulations.