Come On, THINK about this....
Come On, THINK about this....
Posted Jan 11, 2007 20:53 UTC (Thu) by bimbam (guest, #42715)Parent article: Sununu Wants to Squelch FCC Flag Raising (InternetNews.com)
The article 'sounds good', the idea 'sounds good', but what prevents the following 'situation' to just accidently happen?
<Start Paranoia>
My presumption is that Sununu wants government regulators out of the way, so that "technology experts" make the decisions. Who are the "technology experts"? Private interests. If the Content Vendors (RIAA/MPAA) get together with the hardware manufacturers (Sony, Philips, etc.) and decide on a new 'standard' - e.g. for a broadcast flag, then presumably NO GOVERNMENT AGENCY etc. has any legal standing to oppose this 'advance'. Not only that, no Private Individual will have any standing to sue either, especially with 'strict constructionist' judges.
</Start Paranoia>
<Rant>
Remember this next time one complains about Government Regulators: at least government regulators are (somewhat) accountable to the general public. Private Interests are accountable to no one.
Fundamentally, businesses have exactly one purpose: to extract value (e.g. money) from others and accumulate it within each business. The fact that most businesses produce a product or provide a service, or that there is competition and 'honest' businesses is irrelevant.
</Rant>
Posted Jan 11, 2007 21:47 UTC (Thu)
by dvdeug (guest, #10998)
[Link]
Sure. But they could do that with it in the government's hands. And so long as it's entirely a private agreement, there's nothing protecting them from a company not part of the agreement from violating it. And so long as there's enough customers out there with the demand, there will be companies out there with the supply.Come On, THINK about this....