[mythtv-users] Broadcast flag (tell me why myth users should care technically?)

[Endaf Jones]

Thank you Joe for your comments.

>Very simply: If the Broadcast flag becomes law, all ATSC recording
>devices with Linux drivers will no longer be sold.  Your hardware
>selection will GO AWAY.  That's why it is important, even to Canadians.

However (and I'm not trying to be argumentative, but rather stir the pot 
in order to make the readers think about what is truly happening),

The point I'm trying to say here is that, irregardless if our ATSC/DVB 
PCI card vendors honor the BF (Broadcast Flag) or not, does it really 
matter?  What would be the tangible difference it bit streams coming out 
of the cards?  Are they not simply passing the stream down to the OS and 
isn't it the OS (or perhaps the player) that needs to honor/control the 
BF legislation requirements instead?

Is there a whole other aspect of the BF concept that isn't being talked 
about?  Is the problem really going to be the application (storage and 
playback as in "MythTV") that needs to be BF compliant and not the hardware?


# Endaf


Joe Barnhart wrote:

>--- Endaf Jones <jonese at zener.com> wrote:
>  
>
>>Why does the flag matter to us myth users ? (in terms of hardware
>>selection)
>>    
>>
>
>
> Yes, technically, some savvy Canadian company could start creating and
>shipping Linux ATSC cards, but they could not be sold in the U.S. 
>Without a major market, it would be prohibitive to develop the ICs and
>card (remember, the current IC makers are U.S. based and would have to
>honor the ruling.)
>
>Of course, any ATSC recording hardware acquired NOW will never be
>limited by the Broadcast flag -- they are "grandfathered" under the
>Broadcast flag ruling.  Which is why there's been such a run on cards
>in the U.S.
>
>The Broadcast flag provision that was just struck down was a "ruling"
>by our FCC, which is just an executive department and lacked the
>authority to create new law.  The issue will now be brought to Congress
>where the MPAA will have to spread large amounts of money to buy enough
>"access" (i.e. votes) to pass their law. (I admit to being just a tiny
>bit cynical when it comes to copyright issues and our legislative
>bodies.)
>
>
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