Reply #60: No, our Dems are the ones who sponsored the DMCA. Why pick on Dean alone? [View All]

[madfloridian]

None of our Democrats are perfect, and they all had things I did not agree with. I challenge you to read the first paragraph of Frank's piece and tell me it is good journalism.

Hollings, Stevens, Inouye, Breaux, Nelson and Feinstein
http://news.dmusic.com/article/4630

"Security Systems Standards and Certification Act (SSSCA)is now a bill in the Senate. Renamed the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act (CBDTPA ),it prohibits the sale or distribution of nearly any kind of electronic device -- unless that device includes copy-protection standards to be set by the federal government.

Responding to concerns about unauthorized sharing of digital media over the Internet, Sen. Ernest Hollings introduced a bill that would require Silicon Valley and Hollywood to agree on a standard to stop digital piracy. The bill would require any digital device to incorporate copy protection into the device. All computers, vcrs, walkmen, mp3 players, toasters, microwaves. Yep, that's right microwaves. The wording (if it's anything like the draft verson) is so broad that even those devices would be required to have copy protections built in.

It also creates new federal felonies, punishable by five years in prison and fines of up to $500,000. Anyone who distributes copyrighted material with "security measures" disabled or has a network-attached computer that disables copy protection is covered."