I read an interesting piece of garbage a short while ago. The MPAA is petitioning the FCC to allow the industry to take advantage of using a method to protect “new releases” when broadcast on television.
I can’t say I blame them for trying.
Of course there’s a bunch of people in a tizzy over it, claiming that the idea of having a movie protected in such a way that they can’t record it on their DVR is ridiculous. Understandable.
Neither of those points are what I came here to write about, though. What I wish to mention is a silly little claim in the MPAA’s petition.
“Granting the limited waiver will further the digital transition.”
Okay… how? I mean, really. Think about it. The content that the MPAA wants to protect would be broadcast on services like cable and satellite–services which do not affect the end viewer of the content to begin with. The FCC isn’t all that worried about cable viewers not being able to pick up a local “over-the-air” station, because all the DTV issues lie on the cable provider’s end.
Also, here’s an interesting thought. the MPAA stated in the petition that the broadcasts would be in HD, thus a move might get more people to buy HDTV equipment. Ok, fine — but the FCC really isn’t pushing HD either. If they were, then why am I watching SDTV signals through a converter for my soon to
be “obsolete” television?
I don’t know why that simple statement bothered me. It’s just so…. stupid.
One thought on “mpaa, dtv, and a pointless rant…”