Research and commentary on digital technologies in public life
Today on Fritz’s Hit List: the Wallace and Gromit talking alarm clock.
This alarm clock wakes its owner by playing copyrighted audio, so it qualifies for regulation as a “digital media device” under the Hollings CBDTPA. If the CBDTPA passes, any newly manufactured talking alarm clocks will have to incorporate government-approved copy restriction technology.
Fight piracy – regulate alarm clocks!
Today on Fritz’s Hit List: scrolling signs.
These signs display digital information, which may be copyrighted, in visual form, so they qualify for regulation as “digital media devices” under the Hollings CBDTPA. If the CBDTPA passes, any newly manufactured scrolling signs will have to incorporate government-approved copy restriction technology.
Fight piracy – regulate signs!
I’ll be interviewed on CNet Radio today, at some point between 1:30 and 2:00 P.M. Eastern time. Click here if you want to listen to a live feed.
Today on Fritz’s Hit List: Hallmark’s “Circus Mountain Railroad” Christmas ornament. (To see it, go to Hallmark’s website and search for “circus”.)
This ornament plays “Jingle Bells,” apparently from a digital recording, so the ornament qualifies for regulation as a “digital media device” under the Hollings CBDTPA. If the CBDTPA passes, any newly manufactured song-playing Christmas ornaments will have to incorporate government-approved copy restriction technology.
Fight piracy – regulate Christmas ornaments!
Two very nice articles by Steven Levy in the latest Newsweek. The first, I Was a Wi-Fi Freeloader, discusses the law and ethics of using open wireless networks. (I wrote about this topic previously.) The second, Glitterati vs. Geeks, is about the Eldred case.
