Looks like amongst other states, Texas is considering extending the DMCA. They'd like to outlaw systems that conceal your identity on the internet. These would include such things as firewalls and VPNs which is absolutely laughable. Though, I must say, I can't find myself getting all wound up about things like this. When such ludicrous legislation comes around it will either get defeated before passage or the blowback after passage will be so acute that actually passing the legislation would lead to the beginning steps of dismantling the idealogy behind the DMCA. This is a dangerously optimistic stance and I'm glad to have it.

Though, I also find it interesting that so many state legislatures are all simultaneously scheduled to discuss taking this extension up. Its obviously a concerted effort by someone (read CORPORATE). I wonder who it actually is. Although, given their route through state legislation, it also makes you wonder whether the federal McCain/Feingold campaign finance bill is working. Until now, I'd never heard of a bill that was so dumb that Congress wouldn't even pick it up ... maybe the donor money to pissed-off constituent ratio wasn't within the right range for the Congressmen.

By Gary at 02:30 PM in Rights | Comments (0)