Electronic Frontier Foundation – January 25, 2006:
US Senator and MIT graduate John Sununu had this to say about the proposed broadcast flag law:
“The suggestion is that if we don’t do this, it will stifle creativity. Well…we have now an unprecedented wave of creativity and product and content development…new business models, and new methodologies for distributing this content. The history of government mandates is that it always restricts innovation…why would we think that this one special time, we’re going to impose a statutory government mandate on technology, and it will actually encourage innovation?”
How in the heck did an MIT graduate get elected into public office?!
I’m glad somebody in government sees value in allowing legal fair-use. With the on-going demise of video tape, Broadcast Flag, CGMS-A and VEIL threatens to shut down video recording again. What MCA (Universal) couldn’t get done in court in the Betamax case, is now going to be done through the legislative process in law.
I wonder what side SONY is on this time now that they are a media conglomerate? Funny how time changes things.
I don’t expect Sen Sununu to last in office. He makes sense, he was bribed by hollywood and he is intelligent. Non of the qualities a good senator has now a days.
Here in NH, Sununu is fairly well liked. He got his seat by defeating Bob Smith in the primaries and then beating the popular Dem. Governor Jeanne Shaheen in the main election. His father was a popular three term governor in NH and one of Bush Sr.’s Chiefs of Staff. Unless his popularity is damaged (or he accepts some other job) he will probably be reelected.
As for his stance on this legislation, he’s from NH. In other words, Live Free or Die.