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Save Betamax and Fair Use!
Betamax and Fair Use is under threat. I am not talking about the old VCRs format but our digital media freedoms.
Next Tuesday September 14th I will be calling the offices of my Senators and my Congressman the let them know my opposition of the INDUCE Act S. 2560, Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act of 2004, and The PIRACY Act HR. 4077, Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2004 . It goes against the very rights of personal ownership of reproduced creative works and it will stymie the creative technological media formats of the future. The future implications of the INDUCE act will be around for decades to come. Groups that oppose the INDUCE Act includeThe Heritage Foundation, The NY Times Editorial Board, Google, Yahoo, eBay, Intel, Verizon, Public Knowledge, The EFF, The Consumer Electronics Association
Here is more information about why from SaveBetamax.org
Dear Congressional Leader:
I strongly oppose 'The INDUCE Act' and ‘The PIRACY Act’ because they are broad, over-reaching legislation that threaten to make illegal many products and services that have legal and legitimate uses. Technology used every day by millions of Americans, such as VCRs, TiVo, P2P file-sharing software, iPods, and PCs could be subject to lawsuits.
These bills are a blatant attempt to give the major record labels and movie companies control over the natural advance of technology. They are also an abdication of Congress' responsibility to create sound public policy that balances the public and private interests in copyrights and scientific innovation.
The INDUCE Act will create more futile lawsuits, and will benefit neither artists nor the public. As with previous technological advances such as radio, television, cassette tapes, VCRs, and the Internet, limited regulation has benefited everyone. The PIRACY Act threatens to jail consumers just for having digital music players with modems, even if no one ever downloads a single song from them. The Department of Justice surely has more serious issues to address.
Jake at September 9, 2004 
Nerd
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Comments
I can't understand what you guys are doing in the US... I hope this will pass.
In Europe we have a major discussion about Software Patents, at the moment it's suspended but I fear it will come and then good night to all free thought and open source etc.
BTW: nice picture from Cowboy Bebop.
Posted by: Jim at September 9, 2004 6:48 AM
SORRY: of coure I ment I hope the situation will pass, and NOT THE ACT!!!
Posted by: Jim at September 9, 2004 6:49 AM
The screen shot is from the Cowboy Bebop episode where they search the solar system for a working Betamax VCR. My DVD software lets me take screen captures and that is exactly the type of technology that the MPAA and RIAA are trying to destroy.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at September 9, 2004 11:08 AM
"It's not digital! It's analog! And to top it off, it's magnetic... Yeah, magnetic! They were recording with electromagnetic signals! Ain't that amazing? But a disagreement between the companies who created this technology resulted in two standards, Beta and VHS. Beta had a small cassette for their day and the playback decks were compact and didn't take much space. You didn't get that much noise when using the special replay features like still frame and slow motion. And, because Beta had high quality images users who were into good graphics supported it really heavily. But, there begins the unfortunate history of the Beta tape."
Posted by: Kyven at September 9, 2004 5:04 PM
I hate these wide ranging and technology defeating acts. It's hard to wait for these dinosaurs's political careers to die off so people who actually understand technology can take over their offices.
Posted by: Donald at September 9, 2004 6:24 PM
Man I love Cowboy Bebop.
The problem with laws like this Donald is that their effects can linger around for decades. Laws like this can out last everyone in congress.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at September 9, 2004 8:35 PM
We can only hope acts like this can be defeated over and over again. I'd hate to see the advancement of technology slow down because of a few copyright alarmists and bought politicians.
Posted by: Donald at September 10, 2004 2:06 PM
Kyven: all those .avi's and .mpeg's on your hard drive are recorded in magnetic media as well. Don't harsh the vibe of magnetic storage!
Posted by: Grub at September 12, 2004 9:38 PM
He was quoting the Cowboy Bebop episode where the bebop Crew come across and old Betamax tape and they must find one of the few remaining functioning Betamax decks in the distant future.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at September 12, 2004 10:25 PM
