Coverage of the PERFORM Act is spreading, and satellite radio owners and the services they subscribe to are notably
upset.
"Our subscribers, just like radio
listeners have done for 50 years, have the right to make a single copy of a song for themselves," said Gary
Parsons of XM Satellite Radio. "They don’t have the right to distribute that copy on the Internet for
others."
Plain and simple, this is a straightforward case of fair use. Parsons has also said that
they intentionally designed the device to peacefully co-exist within existing copyright law. This may be the most
understandable case of copyright expansion so far to come before the U.S. congress, people understand recording radio
to analog cassette tape. Because of that familiarity, it will be difficult to shroud this bill in very much mysticism
if media coverage continues to grow.
Being an election year in the U.S. voters will have a louder voice
than is typical. If media attention continues to grow around this, we may just be able to beat this one back.
via Red Herring
