FTC's New Technologist

Now that the FTC annoucement is out, I can talk about this openly. I am honestly surpised that this was able to happen for Ed. He's worked hard for many years fighting for our digital rights.
The word is that there is going to be some big changes on how the US treats DRM. The FTC and the FCC are no longer friends to big Hollywood and their constant campaign against the piracy boogeyman.
So expect to see this shortly:

Preservation of analog video interfaces - Not only component video, but standard def video as well will be mandatory for anything that wants to be labeled as 'HDTV'. The FCC has already have stated that analog interfaces are here to stay on cable and sat boxes, but with FTC coordination they can extend that to all consumer devices including Blu-Ray Disc. The Chinese manufacturers are forcing this because the current contracts and liscening is anti-consumer and a burden to all, so we may even see encryption free HDMI.

DMCA overhaul - This may take longer, but the Whitehouse administration, the FCC, and certainly now the FTC, all feel that the DMCA shall not restrict non-infringing uses of technology. Previously the FTC has not really  got involved in technology issues like this, but with Ed Felten as Chief Technologist, they will be deep in it soon.

There is a lot more that I can't discuss, but I will update as I am allowed to say more.

FTC's first Chief Technologist: DRM basher Ed Felten

Princeton computer science professor Ed Felten today was tapped for a one-year stint at the FTC in a decision so shockingly sane that it's still a bit hard to believe. Felten has a terrific reputation as both a researcher and advocate, someone with deep technical knowledge, a pro-consumer/pro-openness/pro-tinkering bias, and an aversion to posturing and zealotry.

Congratulations to Ed!

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