The times they are a-changin’.
This post seems to be older than 18 years—a long time on the internet. It might be outdated.
by Andrew Ferguson
AndrewFerguson.NET
Based on content from:
Reuters and the Associated Press
In what amounts to little more than a surreptitious plot to take over the world, the RIAA has submitted a proposal to the FCC to limit the use and features of Digital Radio. The proposed limits would deny users the opportunity to use several of Digital Radio’s features, including metadata tags and CD quality sound, broadcast over conventional AM, FM, and even satellite radio. The RIAA says the proposals are intended to prevent users from “recording certain songs automatically when they are broadcast, allowing them to build a free library of music they otherwise might pay for and distribute it to millions of others over the Internet.” However, the RIAA’s proposal is simply another way to control content that is based on a 20 plus-year-old standard that provided state of the art sound in late 80’s to mid 90’s. Since then, higher fidelity formats have been developed and implemented, such as SACD and DVD-Audio, however, the RIAA has refused to adopt such formats in masse. So what then does this all boil down to? Many things actually. First and foremost, the RIAA among many other conglomerates are abusing the American Justice system by continuously extending the length of copyrights. In a time not so long ago, copyrights used to last for 14 years, plus the option for a 14 year extension. That was less than 80 years ago. Since then, copyrights can now last well over a century with current laws usually giving the lifetime of the creator plus an additional 70 years. This amounts to complete corporate control over all major songs, books, and cartoon characters. This is a completely ridiculous number and completely circumvents the entire point of copyright laws, which was to offer the creator of the content the initial exclusive rights because they developed the idea, but then to release the content to the general public so that it could be improved upon. This obviously is not happening now…at least not in the legal sense. Second, the RIAA is refusing to recognize that CDs are the millennia’s version of cassette tape. Once mainstream, they are an incredible piece of antiquated technology that should be completely abolished as soon as possible in favor for better formats, such as DVD and the impending Blue Disc standard. Also, incredible research has been conducted on complete solid state memory devices that utilize holographic storage techniques to store data in a 3 dimensional format. The CD is dead and the RIAA needs to figure that out if they don’t want to go bankrupt.
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