Date: Wed 8/1/2001 10:15 AM
From: Matthew Davidian ([email protected])
To: [email protected]
Subject: Point, Click, Legislate and Play
After reading this article, a few thoughts come to mind ("Point, Click, Legislate and Play," August 1, 2001). God save us from politicians who want to write security software specifications!
And what does Brad King's mom think about his father's obsession with Britney Spears?
Seriously, explaining different formats should be as easy as comparing it to real-world formats: A Windows Media Player video file is like a DVD. A RealPlayer video file is like a VHS.
You can't play a DVD in a VHS player, can you? Or vice versa? How hard could this possibly be for regular people to grasp. You need a different type of player for each format. The same comparison can be made for audio formats.
Keep in mind these politicians are the same ones who gave us the DMCA -- and who love it and think it's working "the way we hoped". If the choice is between Congress legislating security standards and keeping the DMCA, I'd keep the DMCA (I never imagined I'd write that!)
What makes Congress think it can succeed where SDMI failed? And does anyone seriously think they'll write a law that expands the fair use rights of consumers after the DMCA?
