When technology is outlawed…

Twenty-eight of the world’s largest entertainment companies brought a lawsuit against the makers of the peer-to-peer (P2P) Morpheus, Grokster, and KaZaA software products, aiming to set a precedent to use against other technology companies (P2P and otherwise). It is being vigorously defended by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and more info is here.

Up until the March 29th Supreme Court hearing on the upholding of the “Sony Betamax precedent” (more info here) which — back in the 1970’s — relieved Sony Corporation of any liability for their customer’s illicit use of this machine to make copies of copyrighted works, the EFF has a “Countdown to the Grokster Argument” that will post daily an “historical” device or technology that *would* be outlawed (if invented in the future) if this lawsuit is lost.

Why should you care?

Well, do you like to use a photo copier? How about the internet itself? Blogs? Your VCR (or TiVo, iPod, or other “infringing” technologies)?

We’re at a crossroads folks. The command-and-control current administration has fostered a climate that is assistive of efforts to contain communications, P2P and other uncontrollable enabling technologies. If you are interested in the proliferation of free speech via bloggers, podcasters and video bloggers; being able to mix music, record TV shows off the air, move this media around your house or car; and use technologies in new and fundamental ways you’ve not yet grasped; stay tuned to this lawsuit resolution and make your voice heard to your elected representatives.

If you don’t care and would rather have others limit your choices, stifle innovation and muffle the voices of dissension in a draconian way, do nothing and pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.