[d@DCC] Why media concentration is a problem, and ties to the DVD CCA competition case...

From: Russell McOrmond <russell _-at-_ flora.ca>
To: General Copyright Discussions <discuss (at) digital-copyright.ca>
Date: Wed, 5 May 2004 09:51:17 -0400 (EDT)

  When we in Digital-copyright.ca are talking about interface monopolies
(copyright, patents, claimed trade secrets like CSS on things like file
formats, communications protocols, user interfaces) we are really talking
about control over ICT tools.  When talking about distributed vs
centralized control over ICT tools we are really talking about media
concentration.


  I wanted to send a quick reminder of why media concentration is a
problem, and why all citizens that support democratic principles (left, 
right, neither) should be concerned.

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-05-04

    Yesterday I was told that Disney, the studio that owns Miramax, has 
    officially decided to prohibit our producer, Miramax, from 
    distributing my new film, "Fahrenheit 9/11." The reason? According to
    today's (May 5) New York Times, it might "endanger" millions of 
    dollars of tax breaks Disney receives from the state of Florida
    because the film will "anger" the Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush.


  This movie which has had "overseas" rights sold to other companies, and
may only be censored in Zone 1 (North America).  Those of us using citizen
controlled DVD players (I use http://www.videolan.org/ ) will be able to
buy the European release and watch it in Canada.  Those using DVD CCA
licensed DVD players will not be able to do this.

-- 
 Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/> 
 Open letters with Susan Crean http://www.flora.ca/creators/
 Petition for Users' Rights http://www.digital-copyright.ca/petition/
           All citizens are "rights holders"!
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