Joe Biden, Dianne Feinstein, and two GOP senators are sponsoring a bill called the PERFORM Act that would require podcasts with music and satellite radio to be locked-up with music industry-approved anti-recording software, according to a Cnet report and a statement from Sen. Feinstein's office.
All audio services--Webcasters included--would be obligated to implement "reasonably available and economically reasonable" copy-protection technology aimed at preventing "music theft" and restricting automatic recording.
That means you won't be able to load podcasts onto your iPod or record songs off satellite radio. Instead, Sen. Biden and Feinstein are selling-out to the music industry and letting them lock-up Internet and satellite broadcasting. If you need further evidence that these so-called Democrats are selling-out to big business, check out the quote from the RIAA praising Biden and Feinstein's efforts:
"We love satellite radio," RIAA CEO Mitch Bainwol said in a statement. "But this is simply no way to do business. It's in everyone's best interest to ensure a marketplace where fair competition can thrive."
It's time for Democrats to step-up and protect our rights, not take them away. Selling out to the RIAA helps no one. If you want to stop this, contact Sen. Leahy--the committee chair. One group of webcasters and the EFF have set up a website to explain more about how the PERFORM Act is harmful.