to pick a nit, the only restriction on over the air broadcasters in the U.S. is that they transmit a single a/v channel (at least equivalent to an NTSC channel in quality) in the clear. They can transmit any other virtual channels encrypted. I don't think anyone in the U.S. is using ATSC to transmit encrypted a/v content. Encrypted content, or non-advertiser supported content, invokes payment of 5% of net revenues for that service to the U.S. government. The relevance of this distinction might be illustrated in practice in the not-so-distant future. John Willkie -----Original Message----- >From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx> >Sent: Jun 28, 2008 5:03 AM >To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >Subject: [opendtv] Re: MPAA wants to stop DVRs from recording some movies > >At 9:53 PM -0400 6/27/08, Albert Manfredi wrote: >> > You know, sort of like locking your car. No one is allowed >>> to steal stuff from your car, or steal the car itself. That >>> does NOT mean that car manufacturers don't need to install >>> locks, however. They should, definitely. >> >>In this climate of proud and deliberate, peristent, obtuseness, I >>should not have used the above analogy. >> >>My intention was merely to say that the problem of unlawful copy >>protection can be attacked at both ends. At the FOTA broadcaster or >>content owner's end (supply), copy protection is not allowed. Period. >> >>But that DOES NOT mean that CE manufacturers have to trust the >>supply end to do what's lawful. Since there are simple means to make >>the system work as the courts intend, CE vendors should use those >>simple means. No need to trust the other guy to be doing the right >>thing, in this case. >> >>Or restated, you are NOT "circumventing" a copy protection >>mechanism, since such mechanism does not, or more accurately should >>not, by law, exist. > >The only restriction on FTA broadcasts is that they be delivered in >the free and clear. The Betamax decision did not say that copy >protection is not allowed, only that using the VCRfor time shifting >was a non infringing use. > >Can you show me anything that says that broadcasters CANNOT invoke a >regimen that restricts copying of a program? > >The real issue is whether they can force the manufacturers of >downstream devices to honor any attempts to restrict copying. They >tried with the Broadcast Flag, but lost because the courts ruled that >the FCC does not have the authority to regulate how devices that are >used to view broadcasts deal with this issue.. Note, tat they can >regulate some aspects of what a TV receiver is, thanks to the All >Channel Receiver Act, which gave them the authority to require HF and >now ATSC receivers in a device. > >Regards >Craig > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: > >- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at >FreeLists.org > >- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word >unsubscribe in the subject line. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.