Oh Baby, Oh Baby, Oh Baby, Filter My Content

I view with extreme distaste AT&T's proposal to automagically filter out copyrighted content from net traffic that crosses its internet backbone. Like the DMCA, this will put an undue burden of proof on people entitled to use the content- it will destroy "fair use."

As I have said in this space before, I am all for creators getting paid for their works. If I could pay musicians and authors directly, I would. I feel strongly that too much of my entertainment dollar goes into the hands of useless middlemen, but I am unable to negotiate or otherwise make my feelings known except through piracy. Cutting the profit margin on "content" to zero should, I feel, enable the Big Six and I to meet in the middle.

(By the way, I see no contradiction between this and my position on the WGA strike. If the AMPTP has a revenue stream, writers deserve their cut, and they plainly do with advertising-supported internet content. Now, pirated content... that's promotional. Heh heh. Seriously, I do believe in creators getting paid. Except for Paul McCartney. That dude is rich enough.)

I look forward to the encryption arms race that will ensue should this proposal go into effect.