MPAA boss' feelings are hurt ...
New group wants Congress to oppose Hollywood technology mandates
By Jon Newton, p2pnet.net
MPAA boss Honest Jack Valenti's feelings are deeply hurt.
Why's that?
Because nearly 30 ungrateful tech firms, consumer groups and trade
organizations have banded together as the Alliance for Digital Progress
(ADP) to fight attempts to, "force the government to design and mandate
technology solutions to digital piracy".
"I am shaking my head in wonderment at this million-dollar campaign to
deride us," said Jack in a statement.
And why should that be?
Many of the proposals the ADP are against would allow US government minions
to decide precisely what 'anti-piracy' technological measures would be used
for consumer electronics systems, including computers.
Cynics believe 'anti-piracy' is actually a euphemism for packages such as
Broadcast Flag largely dreamed up by the MPAA (Motion Picture Association
of America) - not to mention the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of
America).
Rather than stopping piracy, they think, the techologies would in fact
allow Hollywood to control what consumers see, here and do, make sure they
can only do it on entertainment industry approved systems AND provide the
industry with hitherto confidential data on what, where, how and when
consumers are using their entertainment products.
But perish the thought. Hollywood only wants this technology so it can make
users' experiences more enjoyable. And if you don't believe us, "Consumer
satisfaction is our number one objective," said Jack in his statement.
In the meanwhile, the ADP's broad membership of consumer groups,
public-interest organizations, and businesses believe the best answers
arise from private-sector collaboration on solutions that meet consumer
expectations, says the organization on its web page.
And, "We urge consumers to join with us in calling on Congress and other
policymakers to oppose technology mandates and support the protection of
digital content," it says.
Nor is the ADP a group of steaming radicals from outer space. As of January
27, members included:
Alliance For Digital Progress Members; American Electronics Association;
Americans for Tax Reform; Apple; Business Civil Liberties; Business
Software Alliance; Cisco Systems; Citizens Against Government Waste;
Citizens for a Sound Economy; Competitive Enterprise Institute; Computer
Systems Policy Project; Consumer Alert; Defenders of Property Rights;
DigitalConsumer.org; Digital Media Association; Dell Computer Corp;
Hewlett-Packard Co; Information Technology Association of America; IBM;
Intel Corp; Massachusetts Software & Internet Council; Microsoft Corp;
Motorola; National Association of Manufacturers; National Center for Public
Policy Research; Semiconductor Industry Association; 60 Plus Association;
and, the Washington Legal Foundation.
"Piracy of digital content is a serious, complex problem that concerns all
of us," said ADP president Fred McClure. "But government-designed and
mandated technology that swaps the diversity of marketplace solutions for a
'one size fits all' approach is not the answer.
"Mandates are a mistake. A mandate will raise the price of everything from
CD players and DVD players to personal computers. It will make the devices
consumers own today obsolete. And it will stifle the innovation at the
heart of digital progress.
"ADP believes Hollywood should fight piracy by working with industry to
come up with solutions that meet consumer expectations, and by providing
attractive legal alternatives to piracy by putting content online in a wide
variety of digital formats."
This kind of collaboration gave consumers products such as the DVD, a
cooperative effort among the technology industry, the consumer electronics
industry and Hollywood, McClure said, continuing that the DVD has become
the most rapidly adopted entertainment technology in history.
"In fact, a study unveiled by the DVD Entertainment Group earlier this
month showed that, for the first time ever, DVD sales and rental revenues
in 2002 surpassed the box office's record-breaking receipts for the same
period," he said.
"According to projections from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hollywood's total
DVD revenues, fueled by increasing mainstream adoption of DVDs, will exceed
box office receipts again next year."
But Hollywood movie studios are nonetheless pushing for government to
become a "technology designer," says the group. Rather, its the proper role
is to, "help educate consumers about digital piracy while strongly
enforcing existing copyright laws," states the ADP.
Hollywood studios are insisting on these stifling mandates despite the fact
its 2002 revenues set a record for the third year running, emphasises the
ADP. "Both box office sales and the sales and rentals of VHS and DVD videos
are at all-time highs, according to the industry's own figures," it says.
"We are greatly concerned that Hollywood is trying to pressure Congress
into forcing technology mandates onto American consumers," McClure warned.
A nationwide poll conducted January 17-19 by The Mellman Group and Fabrizio
McLaughlin Associates revealed:
Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) believe that the best way to address
digital piracy is through the private sector, without government involvement;
A full three quarters (75 percent) support industry agreements to address
piracy with new innovations instead of new legislation;
More than three-quarters (76 percent) believe that the movie studios should
invest in research and new ways of business instead of turning to the
government for solutions.
And under Government Mandates Are A Costly Mistake, the ADP says it,
"strongly opposes laws forcing the private sector to design, deploy, or use
technology to protect entertainment content in digital form".
Before too much of rosy glow overwhelms you, however, at the bottom of the
page is this rider: "Government can help by enforcing existing copyright
laws, which prescribe serious penalties for people who make illegal copies
of digital content like movies, music, and software. Tougher enforcement of
these laws by the government will help to reduce dramatically the amount of
illegal copying in the United States."
http://www.boycott-riaa.com/article/6024
