FCC wants to hear your voice on the MPAA's latest DRM proposal
Last month you let us know in the comments how you felt about the MPAA's latest effort to close the analog hole -- by removing the FCC's ban on selectable output control (SOC), giving them the ability to remotely disable the analog output on your cable box -- now try telling someone who can actually do something about it. The FCC has opened the petition to public comment until June 25, and replies to comments by July 7. Currently, the MPAA is arguing that allowing SOC will actually hasten the digital transition, once it feels comfortable offering early release flicks on HD video-on-demand, people will have more incentive to upgrade their TV sets. Of course, owners of older HDTVs without HDMI connections or anyone else who'd rather use analog outs would be left in the dark, and Ars Technica notes the EFF and Home Recording Rights Coalition have already spoken out against the plan. Give the MPAA's proposal a read then let the FCC know which side of the line you fall on before it's too late.[Via Ars Technica]
Read - MPAA proposal (warning: PDF link)
Read - FCC Electronic Comment File Submission (The docket number for field #1 ("proceeding") is 08-82.)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MidnightDT @ Jun 11th 2008 8:30PM
I dont understand the big deal.
I, having read the MPAA's petition to the FCC in its entirety, Understand their request to only mean the restriction of "SOCs" during the viewing of HD On demand content that has not yet been released on DVD/BD.
It clearly states in the petition that the ban on "SOCs" would remain in effect for all other things, and that upon the release of the film on DVD/BD, they would at that point, as it is today, not be able to use "SOCs"
whats the problem? they want to protect their valuable content.
gamedude420 @ Jun 11th 2008 10:31PM
which for years users were freely and legally able to record. they should not restrict users like that. video on demand would be great it it was easily recordable by everyone including the average not tech savy joe.
many people used to record ppv on vhs.
StealthMonkey @ Jun 13th 2008 1:06PM
Why am I not surprised you are an Obama supporter? Put more control in the hands of the government! We can trust them to regulate our daily lives! The things they are in control of now work so well.
T-bone @ Jun 11th 2008 8:35PM
more restricts = better for consumer...that was one of their argument that is based on nothing...just the opposite is true.
How valuable would crack cocaine be if it was legal? Hmmm...price would go down and so would illegal activity....I'm not saying make copying films legal, but restrictions never equal improvements for the consumer.
Mark @ Jun 11th 2008 9:39PM
I can't even sign the petition or state my objections because I'm not in the U.S...
Britton Yoder @ Jun 11th 2008 10:08PM
My Letter to the FCC
I don't feel it would be right to enable SOC. Although, I do
believe in the adherence to local and national law, I do not believe the MPAA stands for what is morally right and just. To continue the ban on SOC draws a line in the sand that should not be crossed. To enable this feature on hardware would essentially be equivelent to the creation of a grey area and would in my opinion eventually lead to other things. An all out ban on SOC is the only solution to prevent further measures which could have even further reaching effects on the consumer's ability to use and enjoy rightfully purchased media and electronic equipment.
palehorse @ Jun 11th 2008 10:54PM
done.
Joe @ Jun 12th 2008 12:55AM
We commonly need HD Analog video for distribution systems. They need to stop being over protective of content and let the overwhelming majority of the public use the material that they have purchased in a responsible manner.
GhostDoggy @ Jun 12th 2008 8:10AM
In this day you can buy little black boxes that will take an encrypted didigtal signal and output a pure analog signal without encryption and for less than $200.
Now add to this the proliferation of digital displays with digital inputs and the point has become somewhat dated.
Raptor007 @ Jun 13th 2008 7:48PM
I would say "less than $200" isn't exactly a minor expense, especially considering it should be free (that is, there shouldn't be HDCP-encryption in the first place).
Mr. E @ Jun 12th 2008 11:30AM
I oppose the MPAA petition to erode the SOC protections currently granted to consumers. I see three very specific problems with this proposal:
1. The petitioners wish to restrict consumers' viewing options "until release on DVD". Since the petitioners control the date a movie is released on DVD, if this petition is granted, they will have it within their power to permanently disable analog output by simply withholding DVD release.
2. The petitioners state that this high value content REQUIRES additional protection. However, if this proposal is denied, there is nothing to prevent the petitioners from proceeding with their plan for earlier release of movies on demand, other than their paranoia regarding illicit copying. Obviously, the use of the word "requires" is intended to convey a sense of urgency which does not exist.
3. Petitioners make constant reference to "new services", but there is nothing new in what they propose. They simply claim to want to make movies available "on demand" sooner than they currently do. They could very easily do this by moving the current DVD release date forward, or even eliminating their current 30-45 day delay between DVD and on demand release.
I believe that this proposal is intended not to "enable the introduction of new and exciting services to consumers", but rather, to further curtail the fair use rights of consumers to time shift material for their own personal use. Each step along this path brings us closer to the day when we will have to pay each and every time we wish to enjoy a movie or music at home.
Please reject this proposal.
Raptor007 @ Jun 13th 2008 7:45PM
Mine:
Please do not allow Selectable Output Control (SOC) to be used in television broadcasting. There are many legitimate needs for analog video output! Many users with older TVs cannot use HDCP-encrypted HDMI. Furthermore, analog video is much easier to distribute over long distances. Please don't let the MPAA's anti-consumer paranoia influence important policy.
Dagmar d'Surreal @ Jun 19th 2008 11:43PM
Here's a problem I don't think is being addressed very well, and it's similar to a problem with the "Super-DMCA" bills that were shot down all over the US a few years ago.
If the MPAA is in control of the release date of DVDs, like a previous poster said, all they'd have to do is decide to keep things out of the DVD release cycle, or postpone them indefinitely, and these things would be forever blocked by SOC. Not everything that's broadcast is a movie that's going to be released on DVD, and this would rather likely allow them to turn on SOC for pretty much every TV show on the air until they have made entire seasons available on DVD.
Furthermore, and this is the ugly part, this apparently allows a private institution to directly control something which has the force of *law* behind it, without the benefit of judicial or even legislative review.