FCC approves Digital TV flag

[Aaron Read]

FCC approves technology to limit Internet piracy of digital TV shows
By Jonathan D. Salant, Associated Press, 11/4/2003 17:48

WASHINGTON (AP) The government on Tuesday approved an anti-piracy mechanism 
to make it harder for computer users to illegally distribute digital TV 
programs on the Internet.

In its order, the Federal Communications Commission told makers of digital 
television receivers that by July 1, 2005, their models must recognize an 
electronic marker that broadcasters can embed in their programs to limit 
piracy.


(full article at)
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/308/wash/FCC_approves_technology_to_lim:.shtml

Is it just me, or is this article got some of its facts very poorly 
represented?  The description of how analog vs. digital TV works is 
skirting the edge of misrepresentation, and the statement:

         The proliferation of music on the Internet has held down the sales 
of CDs,
         and the music industry has started to sue listeners who illegally 
distribute
         the songs online.

Is still hotly disputed, although the AP is presenting it as fact.

Not to mention the article leaves out that there's a snowball's chance in 
hell the technology to create this "flag" can be successfully implemented 
in all new digital TV sets by July 1st 2005, and even if by some miracle 
they make it...it'll already have been cracked, no doubt.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aaron "Bishop" Read             aread@speakeasy.net
FriedBagels Consulting          AOL-IM: readaaron
http://www.friedbagels.com      Boston, MA