Canadian Gov Withdraws DMCA Bill—Can They Withdraw Ours?

[ICantSpellDawg]

What kills me is how these laws criminalize perfectly legitimate uses of technology. Let's say I want to take some of my kids' DVDs and convert them into a format they can watch on a handheld Divx player for a car trip.

I bought the films. I own the media. I just want to use them in a different device.

But bypassing the weak encryption on the DVD would make me a Federal criminal. By the industry's lights, I should either buy another version of Spirited Away, or, if they don't offer the file type I need, I should shut the hell up and ignore the fact that I already paid for the film.

This was made super-extra clear when that industry rep testified that we shouldn't be allowed to rip MP3s from CDs when we want to listen to music at the computer. That ought to be a crime, or so she said. We purchased the right to listen to a CD, and mp3 or m4a versions of the song should be purchased separately.

Never mind the fact that the first thing most people do after installing iTunes or WinAmp is to rip their CD collection. Never mind the fact that they paid for all of that music. They're criminals, and they should be put in jail!

It's a joke. Reality will set in when actors, artists and musicians are relegated to their minstrel/acting troop past and are forced to work for pay. The industry will die soon and we will all be better for it.

Kids are starting to be able to make films on par with theater movies, Bands record in basements what previously was studio quality work, Game companies are making money off of user created content that is more popular than the template software. More passionate music. More original story lines. Better Concerts. Better Video Games.

Personal collections of entertainment without government in the pocket of big industry (at least with regard to entertainment)