The Electronic Frontier Foundation has discovered that a provision buried in the new PERFORM act now being debated in Congress would essentially ban streaming via the mp3 format favored by most
internet broadcasters ranging from Live365 to KCRW. The new statue would require more protective DRM style technology that prevents recording and copying if the broadcaster is using the statutory SoundExchange license. The move may anger some consumers used to the time-shifting that unrestrictive technology allows.
Restrictive technologies can lead to consumer distrust and stifle technological advances. This is particularly true in a market segment as new and rapidly changing as internet broadcasting.
We’d love to get reader comments on this topic which we will share with industry leaders and politicians.
