Broadcast Flag court date: Feb 22

The loathesome, unprecedented Broadcast Flag comes into effect this summer, and thereafter, the feds will be mandating DRM in all technologies that can interact with a digital television signal, forever driving a nail into digital television uptake in the USA.

There's a single ray of hope, though: EFF, Public Knowledge and several other public interest groups are suing the FCC over this, arguing that they don't have the jurisdiction to impose the Broadcast Flag -- the appeals hearing kicks off on Feb 22.

The oral arguments on the broadcast flag case in the U.S. Court of Appeals Court will be held next Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Public Knowledge and other organizations challenged the authority of the FCC to institute the broadcast flag rule, which requires consumer electronics and other devices such as TiVos, iPods, digital VCRs and cell phones to be able to block copying of over-the-air digital TV content at the wishes of content owners. Organizations including the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union and several libraries said the FCC exceeded its authority to institute the broadcast flag rule.

Link (Thanks, Donna!)