The Covert Family Website

Skipping Comercials soon to be illegal

Wired is reporting that the Senate is now considering a bill sponsered by the MPAA and RIAA that, among other things, will make it illegal to use software to fast-forward through comercials and previews on DVDs.

Here’s is engadget’s opinion:

They want to make it illegal to use software or hardware to skip all of those commercials and previews that the studios are placing before the beginnings of movies on DVDs, something which is freaking ridiculous since it’s your DVD playing on your DVD player in your home. How about making it illegal to not pay attention, too?

Oh, and BTW, wtf ever happend to fair use? Hasn’t ANYONE in the Senate read Free Culture. If you haven’t read this book, you do not deserve to have an opinion on copyright law.

Posted by Jake Covert on 11/17/2004, evening

Comments

You should check out my site. My reading of the bill is the exact opposite of what Wired.com is reporting. I am not a lawyer, but…

Also, I have the complete relevant section on Ninjamonkies.net.

Comment submitted by Your Brother on 11/17/2004, 22:04 PM

Reading the actual language of the bill doesn’t help much. Way too damn tough to understand, but thanks.

I hope you’re right. Maybe at least this uproar will get them to clean up their act and write clear legislation.

Comment submitted by Jake on 11/17/2004, 22:20 PM

I sure hope that skipping commercials are illegal, that way I can become one of America’s most wanted and then watch myself over and over again while skipping the commercials.

Comment submitted by mrycar on 11/19/2004, 12:17 PM

Just got an update on this issue. Check out my weblog for details…

http://www.ninjamonkies.net/index.php?/weblog/new_copyright_bill_under_consideration_in_the_us_senate/

Comment submitted by EBC3 on 11/22/2004, 13:42 PM