Posted on 11/21/2004 2:37:03 AM PST by Quick1
A new bill before Congress may eventually have DVD-viewers thinking twice before fast-forwarding through the ads and previews.
The proposed legislation would make fast-forwarding through those ads illegal -- not only in theaters, but also at home, NBC News reported.
The bill allows technology that lets families edit out explicit scenes or material to track the DVD use. But broadcast companies have lobbied hard to keep commercials and movie trailers off limits.
"Their concern is if it becomes easy for people to skip ads, then their whole business model goes down the drain," said Gigi Sohn, of a consumer advocacy group called Public Knowledge.
Public Knowledge is fighting the bill and Sohn said families have been skipping ads ever since the early days of the VCR.
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, agreed, saying: "Do we really expect to throw people in jail for behavior they've been engaged in for more than a quarter century?"
Media executives said that's not their goal. The Motion Picture Association said it supports other parts of the act, "particularly those provisions that will help combat the theft of motion pictures," NBC News reported.
TS folks. The corruption of business by legislation must be resisted. Resisting such big government is at the heart of conservatism.
If Congress makes it a crime to fast-forward through commercial junk, I plan to keep practicing civil disobedience.
It is not the responsibility of government to prop up the profits of an industry based on a failed business model.
Exactly. If businesses need Big Brother to coerce customers to watch their lousy ads, I plan to hit them in the pocketbook where it hurts: I will simply stop buying DVDs altogether.
And I'm already a wanted man for removing all those tags from mattresses! Oh why, why did I send the mattress company all those taunting letters? Foolishness of youth!
Commercials are good. They give you a chance to go to the bathroom, get something to eat, etc.
One thing I didn't like about watching the Sopranos was no commercials. SO much stuff happened, you didn't want to miss a second. So you are basically stuck in front of the TV for a solid hour.
McCain is right, I'm just not used to that!
What is Dan Glickman smoking? Even Valenti never pulled sh-t like this!
You have got to be anal secreting me!! What will those bozo's in Goofytown think up next??
This is so stupid I'm not even going to comment.
LOL. We killed DIVX. There's a limit to what Hollywood can do to force money-making schemes down the throats of American consumers.
I would've said that...if I'd thought of it.
McCain must have had his gnads removed!
This really pisses me off.
What they'll do is force the DVD player companies to build in restrictions so that the player won't fast forward through whatever they decide you shouldn't be fast forwarding through like it or lump it.
They did that to ReplayTV's DVR. They offered players that would automatically skip commercials on playback. The networks sued and won. On what legal grounds I don't know...
If their business model doesn't keep up with technology too bad. We'd still be using horses and buggies if the buggy lobby was as powerful...
What really irks me is that congress does these things that are clearly not in the best interest of the public. I really wonder on what legal basis they think they have a right to interfere.
Entertainment exports now account for more cash dollar money than any manufacturing segment. For instance, movies bring in more money than steel. And with money comes clout.
As stupid as it is, you should pay attention to it.
They did just that to ReplayTV DVR recorder/players.
The machines were designed and sold to automatically skip commercials on playback. And it works about 90% of the time. Then the courts stepped in and made it illegal to manufacture a machine that does that.
<Yawn You can still hit the fast-forward button on Replay/TIVO to get past the commercials. I don't see how they can enforce such a stupid law short of stationing a cop in every family's living room. And there always be hackers to get around technological restrictions. Hollywood would be fighting a losing battle and so should lay off trying to dictate Americans' viewing habits.
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