What it is: The FCC's "broadcast flag" mandate would have required by law that all HDTVs obey Hollywood's commands.
Why it's bad:
●Limits legitimate uses like recording programs and then burning them to DVD or sending them over a home network
●Restricted digital outputs (see below)
●Bans TV equipment for use with open source
What EFF's doing about it:EFF beat the FCC's mandate in court and has kept the bill in check since Hollywood began pushing Congress to reinstate it. EFF also created a guide to building your own HDTV and PVR without these restrictions.
●EFF's Digital Television Liberation Front
What they are: CSS is the DRM scheme for DVDs and AACS applies to HD-DVD and Blu-Ray formats. Creating or using a DVD device without Hollywood's permission isn't allowed because technology that breaks the DRM is illegal under the DMCA.
Why they're bad:
●Hamper legitimate uses like making backups sending video over a home network and more.
●Impede bypassing "region codes " limiting playback of foreign DVDs on your devices
●Restricted digital outputs (see below)
●Selectable output control or "down-rezzing" for AACS content (see below)
●Ban open source DVD software
What EFF's doing about it: EFF defended in court individuals and companies that helped users avoid the DRM to make lawful use and continues to press for DMCA reform. EFF also went to bat in front of the Copyright Office for skipping unskippable previews and playing DVDs on region-free players
Learn More
●DVD DMCA cases
●DVD DRM trade secret cases
●DeepLinks post: "AACS - More Useless DRM" April 15 2005
What it is: Partly due to an FCC proceeding hijacked by Hollywood satellite and digital cable set-top boxes as well as new CableCards are injected with DRM.
Why it's bad:
●If a station flags a TV show as "copy once" or "copy never " then that's all you'll get.
●Restricted digital outputs
●Selectable output control (proposed but currently forbidden) down-rezzing (proposed) (see below)
●Ban TV equipment for use with open source
What EFF's doing about it:EFF fought these restrictions every step of the way and helped prevent them from being even worse.
●Learn more - EFF's "Plug N' Play" Archive
What it is: As media devices and PCs converge DRM is increasingly being built into your computer's hardware and software. For instance the forthcoming Microsoft Vista operating system and Media Centers will give copyright holders unprecedented control over the video devices that connect to your computer.
Why it's bad: Your computer will be larded with the above types of restrictions and all their attendant problems. Say you want to watch a DVD or movie downloaded from an online store on your computer running Vista -- be prepared to buy a new monitor and use software that follows Hollywood's wishes.
What EFF's doing about it:EFF has been tracking and criticizing these developments since well before they were on most people's radar.
●Learn more about Trusted Computing
●Learn more about Vista
Restricted Digital Outputs including HDCP and DTCPWhat they are: HDCP restricts connections to video displays through DVI (including HDMI) digital outputs and DTCP restricts sending over FireWire or USB connections. The broadcast flag cable satellite and DVD restrictions only permit digital outputs with these sorts of restrictions. Why they're bad: Restricted outputs will force you to throw our your home theater system and buy a hobbled one. You're likely to encounter arbitrary and unpredictable incompatibilities; many existing devices including even some that say HDCP-compliant won't work with these standards. You'll only be able use devices that Hollywood's approved and obey DRM that blocks your legitimate uses. What EFF is doing about it: EFF's fighting these restrictions wherever they rear their ugly heads as described above. |
Selectable Output Control and Down-RezzingWhat they are: Hollywood wants to block use of restriction-free outputs ("selectable output control") and be able to intentionally degrade picture quality from them ("down-rezzing"). Hollywood already has these capabilities in next-gen DVD formats and has pushed the FCC to allow them for cable and satellite. Why they're bad: Your expensive HD displays might not give you HD quality picture or work at all. Many current and novel devices rely on unrestricted outputs particularly component analog connections. What EFF's doing about it: EFF has fought against these limitations in TV content and has pushed for DMCA reform to allow creation of unrestricted devices as described above. |
Copy Restrictions on Analog including CGMS-A VEIL and MacrovisionWhat they are: CGMS-A and Macrovision are marks that can be put on analog video and state how a copyright holder wants to restrict copying. Though no devices (except VCRs) are currently required to follow these types of marks Hollywood is pressuring companies to voluntarily comply stigmatizing products that don't and lobbying Congress to mandate restrictions through the analog hole bill. Why they're bad: Legitimate uses like excerpting a recorded show or sending it to yourself over the Internet will be blocked. What EFF's doing about it:EFF has held the analog hole legislation in check and pushing back against companies' voluntary compliance. |
Protect digital privacy and free expression. EFF's public interest legal work, activism, and software development preserve fundamental rights.
Protect digital privacy and free expression. EFF's public interest legal work, activism, and software development preserve fundamental rights.
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