RIAA Trying to Copy-Protect Radio

Found on EFF on Monday, 19 September 2005
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For some time, the RIAA has been pushing the FCC to impose a copy-protection mandate on the makers of next-generation digital radio receiver/recorders (think TiVo-for-radio).

Never mind that digital audio broadcasting is not significantly greater in quality than regular, analog radio. Never mind that it's of vastly less quality than that of audio CDs. In spite of these inconvenient facts, the RIAA is hoping that the transition to "digital audio broadcasting" will provide enough confusion and panic that they can persuade Congress or the FCC to impose some kind of copy-protection scheme or regulation on digital radio broadcast.

In other words, the music industry is basically saying that, where recording from next-generation radio is concerned, government must step in and freeze innovation to ensure that you can never do anything that you couldn't do with an analog cassette deck in 1984. This, despite the fact that Congress specifically approved of digital recording off the radio in the Audio Home Recording Act in 1992. So this is about stopping music fans from doing things that are perfectly legal under copyright law.

It's unbelieveable, but they really manage to collect more and more hate-points. I like (web)radio because it's good and free, because I don't like how the industry bullies everybody, because I don't want their crippled silver discs (which are not CDs, although they call them CDs), because the industry is too greedy and unflexible. Recording (web)radio is still legal so far and a good way to get your music. Even if some day it should be illegal, there would be no way to control it. Unless they raid your house regularly and check if you installed a ripper.