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March 26, 2002

Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act

Yesterday I did something I’ve never done before. I wrote my senators in Congress.

I asked them to oppose the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act, which is a smokescreen name for a bill that would require all digital devices to have copy-protection mechanisms built into them, so that we MP3-pirates-in-training, presumed-guilty-because-we-can-use-a-mouse can never ever copy music or movie files ever again ever.

I don’t think I have the energy to write down all the reasons why I think this bill is dangerous and ill-conceived. It comes down to a few simple questions, best phrased by journalist Dan Gillmor:

1. Do you care if a few giant companies control virtually all entertainment and information?


2. Do you care if they decide what kinds of technological innovations will reach the marketplace?
3. Would you be concerned if they used their power to compile detailed dossiers on everything you read, listen to, view and buy?
4. Would you find it acceptable if they could decide whether what you write and say could be seen and heard by others?

Entertainment companies are terrified of the digital age, and would rather punish us all rather than let the market decide. It’s exhausting, really.

All I can say is that if this bill passes, I will do my utmost to never buy anything from these companies again. Impossible, yes, but I’ll try. I’m with Gillmor: I’m not a thief. I’m a customer. When you treat me like a thief, I won’t be your customer.

Sorry Megan, we’re not going to Disneyland.