RIAA at it again....

[Sindawe]

RIAA Trying to Copy-Protect Radio
September 09, 2005

For some time, the RIAA has been pushing the FCC to impose a copy-protection mandate on the makers of next-generation digital radio receiver/recorders (think TiVo-for-radio).

Now, as reported by Public Knowledge's Mike Godwin, the entire music industry has taken up the cause and is beating the drum in Congress.
Never mind that digital audio broadcasting is not significantly greater in quality than regular, analog radio. Never mind that it's of vastly less quality than that of audio CDs. In spite of these inconvenient facts, the RIAA is hoping that the transition to "digital audio broadcasting" will provide enough confusion and panic that they can persuade Congress or the FCC to impose some kind of copy-protection scheme or regulation on digital radio broadcast.
In other words, the music industry is basically saying that, where recording from next-generation radio is concerned, government must step in and freeze innovation to ensure that you can never do anything that you couldn't do with an analog cassette deck in 1984. This, despite the fact that Congress specifically approved of digital recording off the radio in the Audio Home Recording Act in 1992. So this is about stopping music fans from doing things that are perfectly legal under copyright law.

For a complete explanation of why this is a very, very bad idea, read EFF's comments [PDF] to the FCC on this topic.

Update (Sept. 20): Slashdotters take note: you can tell Congress to reject the RIAA's efforts to dumb-down digital radio using EFF's action alert, Don't Touch That Dial, RIAA! It only takes a few minutes to make a real difference.

And if you haven't already, please join EFF as a member today. Every new member gives us more clout on Capitol Hill when we speak up to defend innovation and safeguard your rights.

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One question.  Whats a "radio"?



I have a battery powered one for emergencies and the like, but I've not listened to over the air broadcasts for music in 5+ years.

[mtnbkr]

I dumped satellite radio a few months ago because it was turning into what I was paying to escape.  Now, I listen to talk talk radio or CDs.

Chris

[SalukiFan]

Oh, TiVo for radios!  That would be awesome - I'd be able to skip the 45 minutes of every broadcast hour that is now devoted to commercials and talentless hack DJs.  

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Let the RIAA and congress do their best.  In the end it's a futile effort.

Fact is, the geeks will always be a leap ot two ahead of the lawyers and politicians when it comes to new technology.  Any new copy protection scheme will be bypassed almost as soon as it is released.

Besides, the local public library and a CD burner trumps digital radio copies any day.

[TarpleyG]

Man, I guess they just will not give up. Kind of like DirecTV.  The only hope they have is to do what DirecTV (Dave) is doing now to people who steal satellite signal and that is to use heavy-handed tactics and high-priced lawyers to bully people into stopping it.  My opinion--if you transmit something into the air, it becomes free to those that can get it.

Greg

[Ben]

Oh, TiVo for radios!  That would be awesome - I'd be able to skip the 45 minutes of every broadcast hour that is now devoted to

They've got it. I just signed up to Sirius, and my Sporter 2 has a "TiVo" feature. Only has 42 minutes of recording capability, so you've got 3 minutes to put up with....  

[InfidelSerf]

geesh are these people complete morons or what.
If you have a headphone jack you CAN RECORD IT
No matter what the source. They will never be able to get around that simple fact.

Oh and there is a sort of tivo for radio.. check out a proggie called ReplayRadio
http://www.replay-video.com/replay-radio/

[Antibubba]

What Suluki wants is exactly why they are so against it.

[bountyhunter]

They are such dimwits.  I remember back when 8-track recorders came out and they wanted a "fee" levied on every blank tape because they KNEW it would be used to tape music which was a copyright violation.  Same thing for cassette tapes.  Same thing for DAT, and their meddling virtually destroyed DAT (ever see one in a stereo store?)

Of course, Betamax was going to destroy the movie industry....

It doesn't matter what technology comes out, if it is capable of recording something they want copy protection on it and fees paid to use it.

[InfidelSerf]

and one aspect of recording they seem to forget.. or would like to are those forms of recording that ARE legal under the Fair Use clause of most copyrights.