NBC Universal Fight For Network Filters To Stop Copyright Infringement: "Last month, NBC Universal filed comments in the FCC’s
proceeding on ‘Broadband Industry Practices.’
NBC asked that the FCC require that ISPs institute ‘bandwidth
management tools’, code for network filters, to try to stop the
Internet infringing copyrights.
Public Knowledge recently filed their response, joined by
Consumer
Federation of
America, EDUCAUSE,
EFF, Electronic
Privacy Information Center, FreeCulture.org,
Free Press, Knowledge Ecology
International, Media
Access Project, New
America Foundation, and U.S.
Public Interest Research Group.
NBC’s comments (read them here)
are filled with ludicrous claims.'
It claimed that the open Internet is like a FedEx or UPS delivery service for contraband--wouldn't the government do something, they ask, if 70% of FedEx's payload was stolen goods or illegal drugs? Now, we agree that copyright infringement is a Bad Thing(tm).
Any time there is widespread lawbreaking, obviously something's gotta change. But NBC's glib equation of copyright infringement to the theft of real, physical property is a common as it is unfounded.
This is not the place to get into the technical, almost philosophical distinctions between rivalrous and non-rivalrous goods. OK, let's get a little philosophical. Here's one of my favorite quotes on IP, from Boethius, writing from his jail cell in 524 A.D.:
When you speak, your whole voice fills the ears of many hearers to an equal extent, but your riches cannot in the same way be shared equally among many without diminution. (Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy 33 (Victor Watts trans., Penguin Books 2000).)
I visited Monticello a couple of weeks ago, am also reminded of Thomas Jefferson's famous quote:
He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Isaac McPherson (August 13, 1813).)
(Read Original Article - Via Web TV Wire.)