On Heels of the Consumer Electronics Show, Legislators Want to Cripple Consumer Electronics
Just as CES wraps up, four senators are reintroducing a bill that would overturn the fair use rights afforded to us by the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992. The four senators are Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Joseph Biden (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Ars Technica has the full scoop in “Senators introduce bill to restrict Internet, cable, and satellite radio recording“.
The primary purpose of copyright is to enrich the general public, not not protect the interests of corporations. Time-shifting broadcast content for personal use constitutes fair use. I know “the industry” just doesn’t want to hear it anymore, but how many times must it really be said?
Actually, I don’t think they ever wanted to hear it.
When considering the benefit of the various organizations that constitute “the industry”, the saddest part of the copyright debate is realizing how wildly successful they could be if they would just get out of their customers’ way, survey the evolving nature of that audience, and truly innovate. Instead, “the industry” prefers to whine and cry like a big, old baby.
