[sdiy] *DMCA* The R in RSA on the SSSCA aka CBDTPA (fwd)

[Simon Gatrall]

>this law would put a digital cop in every sampler, synth, drum
>machine, digital recorder, etc....
>because they *COULD* be used to make an unauthorized copy of copyrighted
>material.
>
>http://anti-dmca.org/

<political rant>

As a member of the MIDI Manufacturers Association, I have already 
written to the MMA president to point out the fact that the CBDTPA 
could be used against anything that plays MIDI, samplers, or digital 
multitrack recorders.  He's already aware of the issue and is passing 
it on to other MMA members.

I know that the RIAA has repeatedly gone after sites that host 
illegal MIDI files of pop songs, so I'm sure they would be happy to 
make it impossible to play unlicensed MIDI files on your synth.

Be very, very scared of this kind of control.  Because of the DCMA, 
which is already a law, you could be put in jail for 5 years if you 
"reverse engineer or circumvent" the copyright control mechanism that 
they are proposing.  That's right, you could get the same penalties 
as a rapist.

The most confusing part about this is that most of the senators 
sponsoring this bill are Democrats.  Of course they are getting money 
from the RIAA and the MPAA.

</political rant>

Maybe this is another reason to drop all this digital technology and 
go exclusively analog. :)

-s!mon