A True Hero

I know this might seem off topic of Ohio Sports, but I feel this is an important topic that everyone needs to be aware of.  

Tomorrow is a very big day as Grokster battles MGM in front of the Supreme Court to determine whether file-sharing software companies could be held legally responsible for copyright infringement on their networks.   So basically, the case is about whether peer-to-peer software (ex: Napster, Soulseek, etc) that enables peer-to-peer networks should be illegal or not.  The major music and movie companies are pushing the argument that because some of their content gets stolen through the use of this software, all uses of the software should be illegal.  All in all, they are saying if it hurts their business, it's better to make it illegal than adapt to the new technology. 

In Cuban's recently blog entry from Saturday, he has so graciously decided to fund the software company's defense after he was approached by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and others.   I am awe-stricken by his generosity.  Please read the blog entry if you get a sec, but if not check out these blurbs: 

Unless Grokster loses to MGM in front of the Supreme Court. If Grokster loses, technological innovation might not die, but it will have such a significant price tag associated with it, it will be the domain of the big corporations only.

It wont be a good day when high school entrepreneurs have to get a fairness opinion from a technology oriented law firm to confirm that big music or movie studios wont sue you because they can come up with an angle that makes a judge believe the technology might impact the music business. It will be a sad day when American corporations start to hold their US digital innovations and inventions overseas to protect them from the RIAA, moving important jobs overseas with them.

This trial is attracting some big players in the legal and technology industry so this should be interesting as many jobs and companies might be shutting down in the near future if their is a hint of illegal usage of their software or content.   Check out this clip from NPR which labels this battle as tech vs hollywood.  Also, it touches on the Betamax case in which Hollywood wanted to outlaw the VCR because it allowed users to record illegal copies of TV or movies.  Imagine if that passed...

While I wish I could attend tomorrow given its only a few miles from my house, I just can't wait in line for 9 hours in hope that I might get one of the 50 public tickets (even though I tried to justify it for work).  So instead, check out an archive of the hearings at c-span which will probably be up later tomorrow or Wed. 

Once again, thankyou Mr. Cuban for your efforts.