--- Forwarded Message from Ed Dente <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Wed, 08 May 2002 14:51:26 -0400 >From: Ed Dente <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: 10 New Copyright Laws >To: [log in to unmask] Hi All, This was posted on the Yale Law Meme web site, and cited on Slate. Given the new hardline approach to copyright interpretation on the part of music/record companies and movie studios (the new proposals for taxes on blank cds, royalty payments in advance, etc.), someone took the industry's position to its (il)logical outcome: (Please give all copyright consideration for this to The Yale Law Meme and Slate) Cheers, Ed Dente Jamie Kellner, chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting (an AOL Time Warner company), was recently interviewed by [INSIDE] on the future of television (Content's King). In the interview, Mr. Kellner said some very interesting things, including characterizing those who skip television commercials as thieves: [Ad skips are] theft. Your contract with the network when you get the show is you're going to watch the spots. Otherwise you couldn't get the show on an ad-supported basis. Any time you skip a commercial or watch the button you're actually stealing the programming. To help develop Mr. Kellner's unfortunately common (at least in Hollywood) view of copyright, LawMeme offers the top ten new copyright crimes, as well as further choice quotes and commentary from Mr. Kellner's interview. FOLLOWUP 2359 08 May 2002 LawMeme has an analysis of a new report that shows that PVRs are not as bad for TV advertising as thought (Study: PVRs Not Necessarily the Death of TV Advertising). 10. Watching PBS without making a donation. You know who you are, you cheap ... 9. Changing radio stations in the car when a commercial comes on. Future radios will prevent listeners from changing channels when a commercial comes on. The RIAA has not yet taken a position on whether it is permissible to switch channels when the listener doesn't like the song. 8. Channel Surfing during commercials, especially with Picture-in-Picture capability. Similar to radio, skipping through channels, particularly when combined with picture-in-picture (which permits viewers to know precisely when an ad block ends), will be prohibited. 7. Getting into a movie after the previews, but just in time for the main feature. Theaters will be required to close their doors once the advertising and previews have begun. The MPAA has not yet taken a position on time-in-seat requirements for advertising in the pre-preview slide show or whether audiences should be compelled to watch the credits at the end of the movie. 6. PBS How can commercially sponsored broadcast networks compete with a government sponsored network? 5. Inviting friends over to watch pay-per-view. When you call to authorize viewing, you will be required to indicate the number of people present to watch. Compliance will be monitored and viewers must identify themselves. 4. Blocking pop-up ads on the Internet. Yeah, Mozilla and Opera users, this means you! 3. Not buying things from the advertisers on television shows. Part of your contract is that not only do you watch the advertisements, but that you subsequently buy from the advertisers. If you don't buy from the advertisers, the whole system breaks down. 2. Watching MTV if you are older than 35 or Matlock reruns if you are younger than 40. Advertisers buy ads to reach a particular demographic. If you aren't part of that demographic you are, effectively, a thief. 1. Libraries and librarians. This is why we have the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act. Seriously, Kellner, who is a very powerful man, has said some truly disturbing things in his interview. Not merely once, or off-the-cuff, but multiple times in many different ways. At least Kellner is reasonably straight forward in his intentions, unlike Jack Valenti.