fairuseless.org

Giddyup for the RIAA Boycott Roundup.

Yeehaw!

Here you go:

EFF: Sony BMG Settlement Info

Let's hold companies like Sony accountable.

MacDailyNews tell us Sony music CDs can install kernel extensions on Mac OS X.

To express share their upset over the matter, they've kicked off linked to a Boycott Sony Petition written by a Jeremy Johnson on PetitionOnline.com. [thanks, Geo, for the correction]

Mark's Sysinternals Blog reveals Sony, Rootkits and Digital Rights Management Gone Too Far. [via waxy]

It gets rather technical, but the gist is quite plain: Sony (and presumably others) are allegedly installing cloaked software that take control of certain functions on your PC in order to enforce its copyrights WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT... and it's nearly impossible to remove.

Companies are overstepping their rights and now clearly infringing on yours. This is nothing more than malware. Write your Senator (and others) to make these companies accountable for this behavior. This may rise to the standard of a class action suit, as it may be prosecutable under legislation under consideration in 28 states.

EFF: Give the Broadcast Flag a TKO

The MPAA and RIAA want to control hardware capable of receiving broadcasts.

Speak out against this via the link above.

Boing Boing: V-TV DAY: WE WON THE BROADCAST FLAG FIGHT!

Cory soaks up the victory and does a little gloating while he's at it.

Prospects for future legislation, you ask? Doctrow sums it up thusly:

The fact is, elected lawmakers are not suicidal enough to break their constituents' televisions.

Good point. Congrats to the Public Knowledge the EFF, and everyone involved in this hard fought win.

MediaRights

MediaRights, a nonprofit organization, helps media makers, educators, librarians, nonprofits, and activists use documentaries to encourage action and inspire dialogue on contemporary social issues.

Slyck News - RIAA’s Grand Total: 10,037 - What are Your Odds?

Interesting view on your chances of getting "caught" as well as the notoriety and publicity generated on behalf of file-sharing products and services as a result of this sort of legal flailing.

Although articles such as these help illustrate the folly of the RIAA's tactics, they also tend to appeal to those who are prone to a kind of vigilantism or a Robin Hood complex of some form or another.

Fairuseless.org believes the over-zealousness on both sides of the file-sharing issue is only widening the gap. As the world has learned time and time again, extremism--in any form--can only generate net negative returns. Always.

Quieting the rancor needs to be the first step to a reasonable solution. The RIAA needs to stop its strong arm tactics and back off of its overly broad view on piracy. File-sharers, on the other hand, need to stop their flouting of the law by ceasing to download and mass-distribute content that they don't have rights to.

Starting there and then discussing the nature of usage and ownership in a thoughtful and intelligent manner may yield some more productive options. Fairuseless.org believes there is room for compromise. There should be reasonable extensions AND limits to use. Sharing and rights protection don't have to be mutally exclusive.

Both sides seem to have polarized to the most extreme positions they could possibly take and as a result have simply stopped thinking. Let's get creative.

Our proud sponsor has blown our cover.

If you've never been here before, welcome.

Please enjoy some of the refreshments in the back.

-The Editor

Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act of 2005

Here's a potentially positive development where the music industry would be required to clearly indicate that the disc you might have just purchased is something other than a traditional audio compact disc. The legislation is targeting discs that employ technology outside the current "Red Book" spec. Such technologies might be software that is installed onto your computer without your expressed permission or knowledge and acceptance. Or something that may require you to accept additional terms of usage in order for you to play the disc. This also may include so-called "enhanced" content, such as video or interactive games.

The introduction into commerce, sale, offering for sale, or advertising for sale of a prerecorded digital music disc product which is mislabeled or falsely or deceptively advertised or invoiced, within the meaning of this section or any rules or regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to subsection (d), is unlawful and shall be deemed an unfair method of competition and an unfair and deceptive act or practice in commerce under section 5(a)(1).

In addition to the labelling measures, consumers would have the right to "circumvent a technological measure in order to obtain access to the work for purposes of making noninfringing use of the work" thereby restoring their right to fair use.

What do you think? Fairuseless.org will be seeking expert opinions on this legislation and will let you know how you can show your support for it in the coming weeks.

The Binary Bonsai Approach to Copyright

I admire Michael's conviction (hopefully no pun intended). His awareness-building efforts and long-standing attention to this issue makes him one of fairuseless.org's favorite activists.

His post reminds me that I need to add some of the organizational and resource links to the site, as there are lots more where he came from.