MPAA, CEA at Odds on FCC Order
May 7, 2010
| 5:14 PM
The FCC sided with anti-piracy groups on Friday in an order that will allow satellite and cable providers to encode content sent to set-top boxes with a signal preventing it from being distributed online. The FCC order granted a waiver to its rule against "selectable output control," which enables video programming to disable certain audio and video outputs on set-top boxes.
The Motion Picture Association of America hailed the order for making it possible to distribute movie programming that is still in theaters without as much of a risk of piracy. "This action is an important victory for consumers who will now have far greater access to see recent high definition movies in their homes," said Bob Pisano, MPAA president. "We deeply appreciate the recognition by the FCC that recently released movies need special protection against content theft when they are distributed to home televisions."
Consumer advocates had a different view, arguing that leaks from set-top boxes to the Internet have not been a problem and that the order grants providers too much power over the television experience. The decision will "allow the big firms for the first time to take control of a consumer's TV set or set-top box, blocking viewing of a TV program or motion picture," according to Public Knowledge president Gigi Sohn.
The Consumer Electronics Association also reacted negatively to the decision, arguing that it allows "any video copyright owner to unilaterally shut off video outputs on consumers' televisions." It raised the question of whether the FCC has ever allowed private entities "the right to disable consumers' products in their home," arguing that the order will allow motion picture studios take apart functioning products in service to a new business model.
Categories:
Intellectual Property
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