RIAA Takes On Digital Radio

by Glen Shapiro, LawAndTax-News.com, New York

28 June 2004

The Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA) has warned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that digital radio technology could present as great a threat to copyright holders as peer-to-peer file sharing networks.

Responding to an FCC consultation on the way forward for Digital Audio Broadcasting, or DAB, the recording industry warned that without the introduction of certain protections, digital radio users could "cherry pick" songs via automated search functions, create free libraries of high quality music, and redistribute songs over the internet.

"The potential upside of digital radio for fans, artists and labels, broadcasters and others in the music chain is tantalising," RIAA chairman, Mitch Bainwol observed last week, adding that:

"For the potential to be fully reached, we need the help of the FCC to approve some common-sense safeguards. Given the enormous damage wrought by peer-to-peer piracy, a little advance prudence here would go a long way."

In order to prevent the use of the technology for copyright infringing purposes, the RIAA has proposed either the encryption of the music being broadcast, or the use of an audio protection flag which would direct the recording device being used to encrypt the recording in order to prevent its redistribution.

Recommended