We all know that if it were up to the MPAA and the RIAA, we would be only able to use DVD's and CD's with their express written permission and contracts signed in blood.

For once, we the consumer now have a powerfull ally in our camp, at least for the time being. Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and other industry heavyweights are forming a new coalition that:

"hopes to convince Congress that strict copy-protection legislation that sets technological mandates would stifle innovation, harm consumers and threaten an already suffering tech industry."

Check out the full Article here

Damn straight! The one thing we don't need are strict EULA's on the damn DVD's and CD's we buy! But hey, where's Dell, and AMD and crap?

'bout friggin' time!

Word! I for one am tired off all the Movie and Music industry crap. Hell, Sony who not only makes CD burners MP3 players etc, also to my understanding is part of the Music Industry. Hrm now ok, they dont want us to turn music on CD's into MP3's but at the same time they make the ****e to do it with and use it with... Makes no sense to me there...

Well, its about fricken time. I think there is a law called The Fair Use Law that is supposed to allow the consumer to do as he pleases with these medias once we buy them...

What is the industry gonna do next, lobby to make it so that night clubs not only have to buy the music to play but also have to pay royalties every time a song is played???

I always loved John Mcain and am glad that he will be chairman of that comittee

Cool. Maybe we user's can have some equilibrium in this copyright protection argument for a change. John McCain rocks in my book. He is one hardcore tough dude.

2nd that DS

Microsoft and Intel, often despised by many, are hopefully winning back some respect for their stance against these jerk-offs who don't know sh*t about computing. Good for them!

"I may not know very much nor do I know who "John Mcain" is but... **** YES!... I apologize but I needed to say that. I understand how piracy has become common as starbucks... wait... well not quite that common... at least 5 starbucks in the one mile radius around my house, wow... But back to subject, ALMOST as common as starbucks piracy has become such a problem that it is hurting very very many but in order to protect something how far can a person or organization such as the RIAA go? Perhaps requiring that every time someone buys a CD they have their name, home address, work address age and gender catalouged and able to be traced to that CD and back again?... Or perhaps merely requiring that the innovations of genius and perhaps imagination that make every part of your computer have something that protects it from duplicating data that they legally own? I agree that such a thing would hinder a Quote: Already suffering tech industry Unquote. And likely all of us understand that cannot be done. Many of us here have or wish to make or continue a career in IT but it is beyond difficult out there at the moment... Now how about making it impossible?.... I agree that is past due time for the well... big dogs... to get released. And with those big dogs such as Microsoft, Intel, Dell and the like but persons like us who are affected by change. Perhaps the RIAA and the MPAA are forgetting something... Are such things such as CD's and DVD's meant to be purchased by us? But if they go too far then there will be no customer. And they will be in an even worse situation that piracy. Abandoment. Thank you Scapegoat for posting a link to this article... it is something I at least am glad to see."

Kit