Tech toys and senators: a dangerous combo for the RIAA

[brynndragon]

Recently, an RIAA committee hearing about why we need new laws stifling free expression to encourage creativity (specifically regarding the "Broadcast Flag") took a turn for the better after the committee chair spoke up about his new iPod. Seems he wanted to know if he could listen to songs and shows recorded from the radio on his iPod if the proposed "audio flag" was let through. With that question, the 82-year-old Senator cut through the technobabble and the RIAA guy was *not* happy by this change in procedure.

Well, EFF wrote an article about the hearing and it ended with this line: And God help the broadcast flag-makers if someone buys Senator Stevens a video iPod. My comment when I read about it in a friend's blog was, someone ought to sent up a fund to do just that. Enter iPac:


I ended up giving 1/16th of an iPod, around $20. Damn, it makes me glad when people do my ideas for me, organizing it myself is too much effort ;P.

Comments

[lemasquegris]

I'm down with this, and will prolly contribute.

Of course, it's funny that we're being asked to put money towards buying stuff for people that make 6 figures :).

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

You know, if I could line-item everything my senator buys with my money, I'd be a much happier camper. I also think iPac should sell these video iPods - I want an iPod with "listen to the people" etched in it ;P.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

You can get a custom-engraved iPod with whatever you want on it...engraving's free currently at the Apple Store. But it wouldn't be the same, I suppose.

[greyhame.livejournal.com]

That's pretty cute. But is there supposed to be a link to the iPac site, or something else, in between your second and third paragraphs? I just see blank space.

[evan712.livejournal.com]

You don't see the button? Weird. Here is the link: http://www.ipaction.org/campaigns/ipod/

[greyhame.livejournal.com]

Huh, how odd, when I view source I see the a href and img tags, but nothing, not even a broken-image icon, shows up in the rendered view. Thanks for the link.

[greyhame.livejournal.com]

...and I can see it from home, just not from work.