As the debate surrounding data portability continues to brew, portability of media is allegedly under fire. The U.S. Government is pushing a new Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement between Canada, and numerous other European and Asian countries.
The Globe and Mail featured an article about it today. One proposed part of ACTA is granting border officials the authority to sieze, and possibly destroy any devices found to contain content that is suspected to be pirated, in addition to issuing fines.
This is an assault on media portability and the rights of consumers. I rip my CDs to my computer to enjoy through iTunes and on my iPod. Does this mean that my iPod could potentially be confiscated if I don’t have all my 150+ CDs on my person at the time of the border crossing?
What shocks me is that the MPAA and RIAA have this much power in forcing legislation. I also can’t understand what they think they’ll ultimately achieve with an action like this. Further the alienation of their market? With Trent Reznor proving that he can successfully market content by himself, along with social media and the growth of the Podsafe music community, where does traditional recording and film come into the picture in 10 years?
What about independent netcast networks like TWiT.tv, and Revision3? They actively distribute their content over mediums like BitTorrent. They’re funded through corporate sponsorship and interests, viewer/listener donations and advertising. Is this the future of media? I seriously hope so, because the thought of the Internet ending in 2012 is not something I like.
What do you think? People say that social media is making the Internet more democratic, but then we have huge organizations like the RIAA and MPAA threatening the fabric of democracy itself, forget just on the internet.
Or am I reading too much into this?
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