Whose Derivatives?

Matt Haughey riffs on Ernie Miller's report on Congressional hearings on ClearPlay. ClearPlay enables DVD viewers to create or select cut lists that omit words or scenes as they play a movie, just as the Jay Z Construction Set allows audiences to re-mix the Grey Album. Some Representatives appalud the clean-up technology; others are outraged by it:

[S]ince the motivation behind ClearPlay technology is largely religious, it turns the [derivative works] argument on its ear to many participants and observers. It's not hard to find folks that loved the Grey Album but see ClearPlay technology as something to be frowned upon, but the underlying technology and law is largely the same.

The speech that most needs defending is often the least popular. I may hate the modifications many make with ClearPlay, but I'll defend your right to bowdlerize (or to add gratuitous profanity and violence) in your own home.

For some non-gratuitous profanity, in criticism of the FCC's prudishness, listen to Eric Idle's FCC Song (not safe for modern radio).

Posted by Wendy at May 22, 2004 10:38 AM | TrackBack