As is usual following any championship season, the Alabama Crimson Tide got their traditional visit with the President of the United States. Ivan Maisel wrote a great article chronicling the whole experience. The President even offered up a “Roll Tide!”
As the President told the team, spring practice is right around the corner. 2009 is over. It’s time to win another championship!
It feels like I find a new story every day about a content provider trying new ways to add charges to it’s customers. Newspapers across the country are discussing charging for the “privilege” of reading their content online. Hollywood and the recording industry continue to dream up new ways to lock down the music and movies we buy. Software makers put more and more draconian restrictions into their EULA’s (End User License Agreement).
We typically look toward the government to protect us from such anti-competitive, monopolistic measures. However, they seem to be asleep at the wheel. Or worse, they’re in agreement with the lobbyists. I voted for Barack Obama despite my misgivings about Joe Biden’s cozy relationship with the RIAA. I felt Obama stood for fairness. I still feel that, somewhat. But it doesn’t seem he is really putting his weight toward these issues. In fairness to him, there is a lot going on in the country right now. However, if the government doesn’t pay attention, then we are likely to lose much of our digital rights.
Why has common sense and fairness been thrown out the window? Why is it okay for content providers to use their money and attorneys to intimidate the public through lawsuits? Why is our privacy being threatened in the name of combating a perceived problem of piracy? I want answers to these questions. And don’t give me the typical corporate crap. I want real, bottom line answers. I want fair use to be respected. And by fair use, I don’t mean doing anything I want. I do think I should be able to use my legally purchased content on any device I own.
Congress enjoys puffing its chest out in faux indignation when an athlete is caught using performance-enhancing drugs. Where is the indignation when a grandmother who doesn’t own a computer gets sued for illegal downloads? Where is the anger when our courts are used as a tool for the RIAA to enforce its form of justice?
I am angry, and I am tired of feeling like no one is looking out for the average person. Please read up on these issues. Ask questions. Make up your own mind.
