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Thread: Digital Consumer Rights Bill

  1. #1
    Old Fart
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    Digital Consumer Rights Bill

    Yes, you read the subject correctly. Zoe Lofgren (D), 16th district of California, has put forth a bill that will attempt to protect the rights that Hollywood and the recording industry have been trying to get stripped away from us. For a decent run-down on the bill, click here. Rep Rick Boucher (D) of Virginia is scheduled to release a second bill aimed at protecting consumer rights in the digital domain later today, so keep your eyes peeled for news on this one too. Don't expect to hear about either of these pieces making any progress until after the first of the year though, as it's too late in the game for either one to make an impact of any kind during the current session.
    Al
    It isn't paranoia when you KNOW they're out to get you...

  2. #2
    Webius Designerous Indiginous
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    Well its about time someone with some power stodd up for the people. Afterall isn't that what government is for? For the people? Not the corporations rapeing of the people.

  3. #3
    Banned
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    Xmadness, I agree with you completely. Also, isn't the Senators and House of Reps. suppose to introduce these kinds of bill's because the PEOPLE send them in to be introduced. I'm happy that this one senator is willing to introduce it and is "representing" the people in this case. We kinda need someone with a tad bit of political pull to help us.

  4. #4
    w00t, w00t, w0000000000000t! Hot dog! It's about time a congressional representative stood up and tried to do their job!

    I don't know how much support it will get, but I like the fact that someone in Congress recognizes that when I pay good money for a CD or a DVD that I have the right to expect to be able to use it the way I expect to. I'll be the first to admit that I will rip a DVD to DivX so that I can copy it to my hard drive to watch while I am on a trip. I have had several DVD's ruined by ambitious baggage screeners that throw the contents of my carryon all over the place with little regard for my personal items, and there isn't enough room on the plane to twist and swivel a laptop to change a CD.

    I will definitely get behind this idea!

  5. #5
    Senior Member SodaMoca5's Avatar
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    In reading the article the bill seems very balanced as well. It doesn't really address the Napster etc issue but it does address the issues that legal consumers are really worried about. I especially like it tie in with traditional non-digital products.

    I read a lot of books and I have to get a call from McGraw-Hill about me sharing a book with a friend. I don't see Barnes and Noble sueing Libraries because they are cutting into their profits. If I buy a record I can sell the record but the way some agreements are being written I cannot sell some of my video games even if I remove them from my system (heck I cannot even legally load them on my other systems). Yet I can play my cd in any cd player.

    I understand that the sharing of music borders on or may even be illegal. However, the extent the industries are going to protect themselves certainly seems to be inpinging on our consumer rights. I am glad to see someone addressing this. I am astonished about how fair and intelligent it seems. If I was in the 16th district I might even vote for Congresswoman Lofgren even though I am a staunch Conservative. However, intelligence is so rare in Congress we should not be partisan about electing smart people for a change (sig really fits here )
    SodaMoca5
    \"We are pressing through the sphincter of assholiness\"

  6. #6
    Just a Virtualized Geek MrLinus's Avatar
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    It's ironic that you mention libraries and their loan system. The libraries here loan out CDs, including various modern albums. Does this mean they will have to pay royalties?
    Goodbye, Mittens (1992-2008). My pillow will be cold without your purring beside my head
    Extra! Extra! Get your FREE copy of Insight Newsletter||MsMittens' HomePage

  7. #7
    But when you barrow a book from the library you do not photocopy the whole thing.
    God save the President and his fascist regime!



  8. #8
    Just a Virtualized Geek MrLinus's Avatar
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    But I could. What stops me from making a copy and keeping it at home? Heck, I could make extra copies for friends. Are they going to check every book? How about every CD that is released from there?

    I'm just playing devil's advocate on this. I understand why (copyright and protection of author's rights in what they create) but if they don't look at all the venues rather than just targetting technology they aren't truly fixing the problem. It will continue. It is a cultural and societal issue, not one of technology.
    Goodbye, Mittens (1992-2008). My pillow will be cold without your purring beside my head
    Extra! Extra! Get your FREE copy of Insight Newsletter||MsMittens' HomePage

  9. #9
    Maybe the best way of fixing this in the long run is to have mandatory ethics classes.
    God save the President and his fascist regime!



  10. #10
    Senior Member
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    OK you know what hear is where the rubber meets the road. We all sit an moan about how goverment doesn't do anything and we want to change it... well.. contact your Congresional Representative and ask them to support the legislation above. Contact your Senators and ask them to introduce similar legislation in the US Senate. If every member here does this then we can have an impact on what dicisions are made. You can find our who you Representative/Senators are by search the .gov websites it wasn't to hard I just did it myself.

    US Senate
    US House of Representative
    My other Computer is a 4000 node Beowulf Custer

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