For the last few years, a coalition of technology companies, academics and computer programmers has been trying to persuade Congress to scale back the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Now US Congress is preparing to do precisely the opposite. A proposed copyright law seen by CNET News.com would expand the DMCA's restrictions on software that can bypass copy protections and grant federal police more wiretapping and enforcement powers.
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Member since:2005-11-16
Nice of you to say so, is this the forum for $5 insults or $10?...here's a hint for you, I'm not American 
And by the way it disturbs me a little that my American friends do seem to accept modern democracy with a sigh and a shrug.
My apologies, it was very late at night (early in the morning) when I wrote that (if I hadn't been so tired I probably would've refrained). It wasn't intended as an insult to anyone - more of a "wake up" call to those who might not understand how the American government works.
I'm not American either - (unfortunately?) I'm Australian, and the Australian politicians have a tendency to copy the American goverment so that they don't have to think for themselves (and so they don't hurt trade agreements, etc). This means that if America accepts this stupid DRM law, Australia will probably also end up stuck with it. Further, the entire world will probably, eventually, end up with DRM crippled hardware/software and DRM crippled content to some degree, regardless of how much their governments object to it.
Democracy, the principles of capitalism and the rights of citizens will all be completely ignored - it's about cash (both "bribes" and American exports) not common sense.
Member since:
2005-07-06
Where I live "popularity" (and therefore what gets air-time on radio stations) is determined by a "top 40" list, which is determined by sales figures from the large "music producers" (i.e. all the companies that want DRM). Because of this it's almost impossible for free music to get air-time, regardless of how good it is (which means no-one knows it exists).
To quote Adam Green, "..where has your love gone, it's not in your music, no".
And by the way it disturbs me a little that my American friends do seem to accept modern democracy with a sigh and a shrug.
I think over time, as the quality improves and the community gets itself moving, in much the same way as the FOSS community some of the big players will get involved (like Google). Summer of music, anyone?
Without getting too off topic, the top 10/40/50/100 systems used in most countries are a manipulative construct designed to encourage you buy more of a certain and very specific artist/brand. The actual music is such a small part of the process, publicity and marketing deals, freola airplay, video and network deals, magazine shoots and exclusives....all over a very very short span of time.
Someone like Jessica Simpson will never ever ever appear on something like ccMixter, because when you strip away all the component parts back down to the music.....well, I don't want to insult the girl
Manufactured bands are always top 10, does that mean they're the best? No. "Top" systems are flawed. We need a better system. We need preferential learning filters, it's coming.
You sound like a fool who still thinks the USA is a democracy. Here's a hint - the USA is a "representative democracy", which is completely different thing. Instead of everyone having a say in all things that matter, the people only get a say on issues that the politicians think is "safe" just before an infrequently held election.
Nice of you to say so, is this the forum for $5 insults or $10?...here's a hint for you, I'm not American
If you don't like YOUR system, change it.
....Those infrequent elections (the only say normal citizens have) aren't quite democratic either, at least not in the fairest, truest sense (if we both build a house and my house is better, does that mean I'm the better builder, even if I started with a million dollars and you started with 2 dry sticks and some chewing gum?).
It's not always about money. With two dry sticks I can start a fire and make a choice, to keep warm and slowly build resistance or drop by your house and watch a million dollars burn.