So Predictable: MPAA Pushing Legislation To Bring Back The Broadcast Flag
from the how-it-all-works dept
It seems the entertainment industry is becoming way too predictable these days. Last week, while everyone was celebrating the court’s decision that the FCC didn’t have the authority to mandate the broadcast flag, it was easy to predict that Congress would step in and give them that authority with a little help from their friends in Hollywood. Of course, it’s no surprise that the MPAA is already circulating draft legislation that would give the FCC this authority. Declan McCullough expects that this bill might wait another two months or so until the Grokster decision comes out — and, then Congress will have to step in to make a mess of that result as well. So, expect some sort of combined legislation that outlaws certain file sharing apps while giving the FCC the authority to put up a broadcast flag… all in the name of propping up some obsolete business models (though, there will be a lot of bogus talk about “protecting artists” — which more and more people are realizing is not quite true). If only other industries could get that sort of treatment. We might still be riding around in horses and buggies…
