[sdiy] *DMCA* The R in RSA on the SSSCA aka CBDTPA (fwd)

[cyborgzero at comcast.net]

----- Original Message -----
From: "mark verbos" <a0284520 at addcom.de>
To: "synth DIY" <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2002 8:04 PM
Subject: Re: [sdiy] *DMCA* The R in RSA on the SSSCA aka CBDTPA (fwd)


> Democrats support this because it is supposed to help artists.

Well, extrapolate out a few steps..

1) The price of *all* digital technology goes sky high to pass on the
cost of implementing this Orwellian nightmare
2) The market of used gear that doesn't have it goes sky high because
most ppl don't want to be bothered (can anyone say "Mindisc?")
3) Consumer electronics, along with the new media that it must play,
stagnates
4) The recording companies lose, the consumer electronics companies
lose, we all lose
5) The very same thing that upheld the economy these past 6 months
will be decimated (consumer spending on electronic goods)

BTW, due to this sort of thing being proposed, among other issues,
Phillips, RCA, Sony, et al have all issued statements that basically
say "The profitability in consumer electronics is gone; we are getting
out" and have all either privately or openly, issued timelines to stop
producing consumer electronics.

Working for one of the big 5, I can tell you that the regulations on
consumer electronics equipment has already managed to drive up the
cost for any *liable* (ie outside of mainland China) company to
produce consumer electronics.

This is why consumer electronics from every major firm is being moved
to China; not because the quality is better, not because its
neccesarily all that much cheaper, but the fact that the liability is
limited because China does not recognize copyrights, patents, and
intellectual property, and it has shown these firms that its better to
have it built there, and if any litigation ensues, you can blame it on
the fact that its made in China and that they have to sue the Chinese
company that built it and not sue the western conglomerate backing it.
Of course, to sue a Chinese company, you need govt permission. That
won't happen anytime soon, because the govt owns most of the
corporations. ;)

This bill will be the death knell for companies that uphold
intellectual rights, and no more consumer electronics development will
done after this in any of the westernized world.

 How much
> do you think the sales of CDs have suffered since CD burners became
> affordable? EMI is dropping most of their roster as of this week,
and
> that's what they blame.

EMI et al are all looking to get out of music completely, they just
tell you in a roundabout way. The majors are on the ropes, and the
power of production is in the hands of the ppl, to coin a socialist
phrase, and they are diminished everywhere but in their ability to
litigate. It is their only hope.

I just hope the Democrats wake the hell up in time to realize a
time-trued phrase: the worst thing you can give to business is exactly
what it wants; its just enough for them to destroy themselves.

Enron et al got exactly what they wanted, and they destroyed their
company with it. I see the same with Sony, EMI, Time-Warner, et al.
They will be more worried about enforcing their stupid security
systems than making music, it will clog the courts with bullshit, and
the only ppl who will make money will be the lawyers.

I mean, we already see a slowdown of newly released music. Give these
one-track idiots some cause like this, and I guarantee the first thing
they will do it drop their "talent" lineup and hire a bunch of lawyers
in their place to enforce this idiocy.

This is what happens when a corporation listens to lawyers. Really,
the lawyers work for the corporation, not vice-versa, but there is
always some promise of "big litigation cash" that puts stars in the
eyes of some stupid young accounting exec who doesn't even know how to
set the timer on his VCR let alone how security works.

Rob