Movie Industry Plan for Set-Top Boxes Will Hurt Consumers

In an October 14 letter to Federal Communications Commission Media Bureau Chief William Lake, Public Knowledge argues that a proposal by the motion picture industry to use "selectable output control" to hobble the functions of set top boxes won't stop movie theft but will harm consumers. Recently, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) told the FCC that such control was needed to bring movies to the public faster than they otherwise might. Public Knowledge responded that movie companies can bring out their product to consumers at any time and without a waiver of FCC rules. PK told the Bureau: "The MPAA has submitted no proof that grant of the waiver will serve the public interest at all. To the contrary, what proof exists in the record shows that the 'problem' of a longer window for release of movies to MVPDs than for release on DVDs is a business decision made by MPAA's members. Rather than shed crocodile tears for the poor shut ins and busy parents who must either subscribe to NETFLIX to get the earlier window or wait a whole thirty days, MPAA's members could simply negotiate a shorter release window."