Are washing machines next?

Source used: Businessweek

Has the FCC gone to far in preventing customers from recording their favorite TV shows by enforcing the “broadcast flag” that was pushed by the MPAA? The answer is simply, yes. The broadcast flag would have prevented TV viewers from recording their favorite TV shows or movie that was on TV to view at a later time. This may sound familiar to you but for those that were born before 1984… you might remember the Sony vs. Betamax case that went before the Supreme Court. Had it not been for this case, personal computers as we know them today would not exist. The internet would not exist like it does today. Those wonderful iPods would be illegal.

It’s sad that certain trade groups and lobbyist groups feel it neccessary to take away the rights of consumers. To quote the article, ” Entertainment companies said the technology was needed to block viewers from recording high-quality, digital versions of television shows and films…” You know that Tivo that you just bought…yep, totally worthless now. While I understand the need to protect your product for theives but making a general consumer who does not know what all their computer or DVR is capable of doing, is ridiculous.

In closing, I bring you this snippet from the end of the article as something to think on.

Friday’s ruling was no real surprise. During courtroom arguments, U.S. Circuit Judge Harry T. Edwards told the FCC it had “crossed the line” by requiring the new anti-piracy technology for next-generation television devices and rhetorically asked the FCC whether it also intended to regulate household appliances.

“You’ve gone too far,” Edwards told the FCC’s lawyer. “Are washing machines next?”

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