Fast Forwarding Through Commercials in USA Now Illegal...Wait, No, Now It's Legal!

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000080021407/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000080021407/</a><br /><br /></div>On the 22nd, <a href="http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19801">El Reg reported</a> that the US Congress was considering a bill that would make it illegal to fast forward through commercials:<br /><br /><i>"The US Congress is considering making fast forwarding through video advertisements a crime. Lawmakers in the land of the free have decided that it is costing their chums in the movie industry far too much money and want video fast-forwarders placed in the same league as pirates."</i><br /><br />Today, however, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000080021407/">engadget is reporting</a> that the bill has been altered to exclude this particular provision. What an insane world we live in - the movie studios have far too much power.

[mcsouth]

Okay, it's news stories like this that make me embarrassed to admit that I live in the US. That someone could even come up with the idea that something as inane as this should be made illegal is incredible - that our lawmakers could actually take it seriously is unfathomable.

On the flip side, did anyone give any thought as to how they would enforce this? Would manufacturers be forced to embed devices within VCR's/TiVo's/any hardware capable of capturing a broadcast that would notify officials when such a heinous crime was committed? I can just imagine a future CSI tv show subject - can you see Grissom facing down the suspect, asking him to explain why his fingerprint was found on the remote fast-forward button?

While driving to work, I will often mute/turn down my radio when they start their commercial run, because I don't need to spend 5 minutes of my morning commute listening to commercials - is this going to become illegal next? What is wrong with our society when we feel the need to force our citizens to be constantly subjected to advertising?

[Jason Dunn]

That someone could even come up with the idea that something as inane as this should be made illegal is incredible - that our lawmakers could actually take it seriously is unfathomable.

I'm a big beliver in the capatalist system, but I think this underscores how powerful the special interest lobby groups have become - that the RIAA can extert this type of pressure on the US government is worrysome.

On the flip side, did anyone give any thought as to how they would enforce this?

I think they'd just legally mandate the removal of the feature - the thing is, that would just drive everyone in the US to buy DVD players on the grey market from Taiwain. Or Canada. :lol:

[Doug Johnson]

Don't most non-PVR owners just change the channel or get up for a kitchen/bathroom break during commercials anyway? What good would a law like this do, other than tick off a whole lot of people?