TV signal treaty could take rights from viewers
September 13th, 2006An international treaty on retransmission of television signals might keep pirated copies of Desperate Housewives off Bulgarian internet sites. But read the fine print:
The treaty’s broad language would create an expansive new copyright on TV signals that could lead to higher prices and more restrictions on home recording. Watching shows on a digital video recorder, transmitting a football game to a laptop via services such as SlingBox or simply moving video from one device to another in a home network would technically be considered a retransmission that requires the broadcaster’s OK.
Critics say it’s another desperate attempt by the broadcast industry to use legislation to restrict technological innovation and keep a dying business model on life support.
• Link: LA Times