Public Interest Groups File Opposition to MPAA Petition
Jul 23, 2008
As we wrote about last month, members of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) are interested in making high definition movies available for in-home viewing ahead of the typical release dates for DVDs, and MPAA is seeking permission from the Federal Communications Commission to use selectable output control (SOC) technology to prevent consumers from recording those films.
Despite MPAA's assertions that the arrangement would not only benefit its members by protecting their intellectual property but that it would also help consumers get access to high definition content and major theatrical releases earlier than usual, a number of public interest groups have banded together to voice their opposition to the FCC.
In a document filed with the Commission on Monday, seven organizations including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Public Knowledge, New America Foundation and Media Access Project urged the FCC to reject MPAA's petition on grounds that it's "unnecessary and contrary to the public interest." They argue that MPAA hasn't provided evidence that use of SOC technology would in fact curb copyright infringement; that it would frustrate consumers who wouldn't be able to use their electronics equipment as expected and that it would give "MPAA members unprecedented and undesirable control over consumer device design."
The full 25-page document is available for download.
Tags:
consumer electronics, copyright, Electronic Frontier Foundation, FCC, MPAA, Public Knowledge, SOC
