In an aim
to do away with analogue broadcasts, a new digital TV bill has been introduced with a hard 2008 deadline that would force broadcasters to release the analogue spectrum. This would appear like a good opportunity for the MPAA to reintroduce the broadcast flag, following the US Court of Appeals ruling against the FCC. However, Rep. Joe Barton, chairman of the House Commerce Committee apposes adding the broadcast flag measure to this digital TV bill as it would make it more difficult to impose the hard deadline.
Despite this opposition, the MPAA will continue to educate its members about the broadcast flag, although they are not sure where it will go now. So far the MPAA has begun trying to find alternative methods of reintroducing the broadcast flag legislation as a result of the recent ruling and they are unlikely going to give up anytime soon.
While the broadcast flag may aim to help prevent widespread piracy of broadcast content, it would have effects on 'fair use' of existing law such as prevent someone from recording content and E-mailing it to another location to watch it there due to security issues with E-mail. Finally, recordings of 'flagged' content may not be playable on legacy devices.
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Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), chairman of the House Commerce Committee, has indicated that he opposes inserting a broadcast flag measure in his newly introduced digital TV bill, which would set a 2008 hard deadline for broadcasters to give back their analog spectrum. Motion Picture Association of America Executive Vice President John Feehery on Wednesday confirmed that Barton told the MPAA he doesn't support broadcast-flag provisions in his bill, but Feehery said the group hasn't determined its next course of action. "If that's what he thinks, that's what he thinks," said Feehery. "But we're continuing to educate members on the broadcast flag, and we're not sure where it will go." The MPAA began its legislative push on Capitol Hill shortly after a May 6 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Read the full article here. |
It looks like those responsible for the digital TV bill are taking no chances when it comes to anything that may upset the deadline for the bill. While this will not stop the MPAA from trying to enforce broadcast flag legislation, at least they are find it more difficult to do so. Their time is also running out as once the majority of consumers have upgraded to non broadcast flag compliant TVs and recording devices, it will be too late for them to try and enforce something then.
Source: Wired News - Technology
