EFF: 48 Hours to Stop the Broadcast Flag

ppcvidz.com · 06-20-05, 10:47 PM

EFF is warning that Hollywood is trying to sneak the broadcast flag into law as an amendment to a massive appropriations bill. 'If what we hear is true, the provision will be introduced before a subcommittee tomorrow and before the full appropriations committee on Thursday. That gives us 48 hours to stop it. Read More

deftech · 06-20-05, 11:08 PM

I personally don't think it will go through in this round. They'll likely have to make some big changes to the way they gear for it to be used before it will be approved. Only a few days will tell...

06-21-05, 01:36 AM

what is a broadcast flag?

06-21-05, 01:37 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_flag

ppcvidz.com · 06-21-05, 09:27 PM

What is the Broadcast Flag you ask?

"The United States is in the midst of a transition from analog to digital television (DTV) broadcasting. By switching from analog to digital broadcast technologies, Congress hopes to repossess a bunch of spectrum from TV broadcasters, which will then be auctioned off for other uses. Viola—more money without raising taxes; Congress loves this idea!

Unfortunately, Hollywood pulled a hold-up. It threatened to derail the DTV transition by withholding "high-value content" from over-the-air DTV, unless the FCC imposed "content protection" (aka DRM) on all future televisions and related devices. The idea was that content owners would implant a "broadcast flag" into DTV programming. When devices detect the flag, they have to "protect" (i.e., lock up in DRM jail) the programming." - EFF.ORG

Why do I care about this?

"Today, you can use any device you like with your television: VCR, TiVo, DVD recorder, home theater receiver, or a PC combining these functions and more." - EFF.ORG

"Responding to pressure from Hollywood, the FCC had adopted a rule requiring future digital television (DTV) tuners to include "content protection" (aka DRM) technologies. All makers of HDTV receivers would have been required build their devices to watch for a broadcast "flag" embedded in programs by copyright holders. When it comes to digital recording, it would be Hollywood's DRM way or the highway. Want to burn that recording digitally to a DVD to save hard drive space? Sorry, the DRM lock-box won't allow it. How about sending it over your home network to another TV? Not unless you rip out your existing network and replace it with DRMd routers. Kind of defeats the purpose of getting a high definition digital signal, doesn't it?" - EFF.ORG

If the broadcast flag is enacted into law and digital broadcasts are the new standard, this will essentially make VCR's, Tivo's and other recording devices useless as you will only be able to watch it on the device that recorded it.

What can I do to stop it?
If your state is listed below, then your senator is on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and you can help stop the Flag - but there isn't much time. Please write now: https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy...display&id=145

For Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin constituents.

06-21-05, 09:46 PM

honestly i dont think this would hold up in court. what ever happened to fair use

deftech · 06-21-05, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by ericcumbee

honestly i dont think this would hold up in court. what ever happened to fair use

There WILL likely be a flag at some point. Will it be as strict as what they're trying to push now? Probably not. But I think there will definitely be one.

If they really want to lock down pay-per-view movies and such with one, then so be it.... but if they're going to enable it on most channels, as well as preventing me form recording it on a DVR then that's just ridiculous. There will have to be drastic changes to how a broadcast flag would be implemented before it will work. Otherwise, people will be even LESS willing to switch to DTV than they already are (I'm speaking of people on a whole).