[mythtv-users] Calling HD MythTV users who are EFF members -- help in the broadcast flag challenge

[Dewey Smolka]

Give 'em hell, Wendy.

All of us here are behind you.


On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:29:27 -0800, Tim Sylvester <tim at smartcow.com> wrote:
> Hi Wendy,
> 
> I am an EFF member and I am also in the process of starting a company to
> sell media servers using MythTV. I am a perfect example of how the broadcast
> flag negatively impacts a startup company. The broadcast flag casts a cloud
> of uncertainty over a business building MythTV boxes. If the broadcast flag
> ruling stands, the only alternative to building a "legal" PVR that records
> HD content in digital form is to use firewire on a STB and license DTCP for
> $14,000 or license the technology behind CableCard which costs $25-$50K.
> Today I can build MythTV boxes with off the shelf components and open source
> software but all of that ends on July 1.
> 
> I would be happy to help out with the lawsuit. You can reach me at:
> 
> Tim Sylvester
> (408) 334-1700
> timothysylvester at gmail.com
> 
> Tim
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
> [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Wendy Seltzer
> Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 3:16 PM
> To: Discussion about mythtv
> Subject: [mythtv-users] Calling HD MythTV users who are EFF members -- help
> in the broadcast flag challenge
> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> As you may have seen, the D.C. Circuit asked us to clarify our
> standing to challenge the FCC's broadcast flag rule (the rule
> mandating DRM in HDTV tuners made after July 1, our suit is ALA v.
> FCC,
> <http://www.eff.org/IP/Video/HDTV/ALA_v_FCC/?f=ala_v_fcc_summary.html>).
> The Court wants to see concrete instances of injury. That's good
> news, because if they get over the standing hurdle, they seemed
> sympathetic to our arguments on the merits, that the FCC didn't have
> jurisdiction to make the rule.
> 
> We've got plenty of good evidence, but more can only help.  An
> organization such as EFF has standing to sue over injuries to its
> members, so if any of you are EFF members and have built or plan to
> build HDTV systems in the U.S. and would be affected by the broadcast
> flag rule, please contact me offlist, wendy at eff.org, if you might be
> willing to help us tell the court about your situation.
> 
> More on the broadcast flag <http://www.eff.org/broadcastflag/>
> 
> Thanks!
> --Wendy
> --
> --
> Wendy Seltzer -- wendy at seltzer.com || wendy at eff.org
> Electronic Frontier Foundation
> Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School
> http://wendy.seltzer.org/mythtv/
> 
> 
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> 
> 
>