Slashdot is carrying discussion of a news.com article about a bill, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act.  This bill, according to the C|Net article, "dictates universities that participate in federal financial aid programs 'shall' devise plans for 'alternative' offerings to unlawful downloading, such as subscription-based services, or 'technology-based deterrents to prevent such illegal activity.'"

Know what that sounds like to me?

Now here's a novel idea. It seems at least one record company is using peer-to-peer download data for market research.

Interscope Records is using file sharing data from a company called MediaDefender, which bills itself as "the leading provider of anti-piracy solutions in the emerging Internet-Piracy-Prevention (IPP) industry." MediaDefender makes its money by seeding file sharing networks with bogus files, allowing content providers to serve users ads instead of the files users request, and in general try to screw up the peer-to-peer experience. Not that it's working.

In addition, they are apparently supplying traffic data to record companies like Interscope to help them choose which single to release next. Presumably, a song that is downloaded often on file sharing networks but has yet to be released as a single is a good target for promotion. It's like record companies have a little test market running online, which they can learn from before they spend money on advertising in the real market.

Cross posted at The Seminal

In this diary, we are shown that Michael Moore's Sicko is not doing as well at the box-office as Fahrenheit 911 did in 2004.

Well, whether you like it or not, the box-office numbers are not the only stats we should be looking at.  On the "internets", Sicko looks like it could be creating "underground" American history.

See why after the fold...

An interesting blog entry on CNN Money (unfortunately it has now dropped off the headline list and the search function won't respond) contends that absolutely zero RIAA file sharing lawsuits have made it to court.

[Cross-posted from Dump Mike]

Congressman Mike Ferguson introduced a bill in Congress yesterday which will make it impossible for you to record a radio show and play it back later on your iPod or other music device.  The bill essentially forces manufacturers to implement features on satellite, high-definition and regular radios that allow broadcasters to block consumers from recording shows.

Rep. Mike Ferguson, R., N.J., will introduce the "Audio Broadcast Flag Licensing Act of 2006" on Thursday (March 2). The bill includes an HD radio component and a satellite radio component, according to staffers in Ferguson's office, who spoke to Billboard Radio Monitor on condition of anonymity.

The HD component requires any private company that plans to manufacture an HD radio must incorporate technology in that radio that works with a broadcast audio flag "or something similar." The satellite component imposes similar audio-flag requirements on equipment manufactured for both XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.

In an interview with the Sunday Herald of Glasgow, Michael Moore says that he's fine with people downloading his movie off the internet.

"I don't agree with the copyright laws and I don't have a problem with people downloading the movie and sharing it with people as long as they're not trying to make a profit off my labour. I would oppose that," he said.

"I do well enough already and I made this film because I want the world, to change. The more people who see it the better, so I'm happy this is happening."