FCC readies rule to block Internet piracy

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
> Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2003 08:10:34 -0700
> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
> =
>
> FCC readies rule to block Internet piracy
>
> By Jonathan Krim, Washington Post,  10/19/2003
> <http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2003/10/19/fcc_readies_rule_to_block_internet_piracy/>
>
> WASHINGTON -- The federal government is preparing for the first time to 
> require that personal computers and other consumer electronics devices 
> contain technology to help block Internet piracy of digital entertainment.
> A rule being considered by the Federal Communications Commission is one of 
> a series of proposals pushed by the entertainment industry to help thwart 
> copying and online trading of movies and television shows that 
> increasingly are being broadcast in digital form with high-quality picture 
> and sound.
>
> But the new rule also would force consumers to purchase new equipment if 
> they wanted to record enhanced digital-quality television programs and 
> replay them on other machines.
>
> Opponents of the proposed rule, including many technology companies and 
> consumer groups, say it won't work. They are especially concerned that the 
> plan might lead to government regulation of how personal computers and 
> other devices are built, particularly if hackers crack the system and 
> further changes are deemed necessary.
>
> FCC officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they expect 
> the agency to settle on details of the "broadcast flag" rule by the end of 
> the month. The broadcast flag takes its name from the computer code that 
> would be embedded in digital television signals and would be read by 
> "compliant" devices such as a television or a digital video recorder.
>
> The rule would not affect consumers who record shows with VCRs. Nor would 
> it affect programming received on a cable or satellite system, in part 
> because consumers pay for that content.
>
> But the entertainment industry does not want digitally enhanced 
> "high-value" entertainment sent free over the air to be easily copied and 
> distributed on the Internet.
>
> FCC officials said they expect the final rule to enable competition among 
> different means of deploying the flag system to protect broadcasts, rather 
> than the government anointing one in particular.
>
> Unlike with recent FCC decisions on high-speed Internet access and media 
> consolidation that have deeply split the five-member commission, none of 
> the three Republicans and two Democrats has led a public campaign against 
> the broadcast flag.
>
> "I'm optimistic we'll have a clean majority," said one senior agency 
> official. "The commission has acted in the area of digital television in a 
> very bipartisan fashion."

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