Mike wrote:
And what's to prevent it from happening at a high level if there's enough profit in it? MPAA is a tiny market compared to the rest of the electronics industry - it will be easy to bypass the law on a huge scale. You don't need to be a "sufficiently talented electrical engineer" when you can go across the border, buy 1000 simple/cheap devices and bring 'em back in your pickup truck.
Nothing will prevent one in theory from manufacturing, trafficking, or possessing unapproved electronic devices. Just as nothing is presently preventing you from realizing fantastic margins by loading up your truck with bags of cocaine before crossing the border. What will limit the possession and distribution of non-MPAA approved consumer electronic devices in the future to a threshold compatible with the MPAA's revenue goals will be the mandatory 5-10 year minimum sentences those found in possession of such devices will face. Are you willing to do that time? Or would you rather pay the members of the MPAA some $20 or 30 per month subscription fee that's being enforced by your approved device? No, continuing to watch your old video tapes on your old VCR is not an option after the upgrade and registration deadline for these infringement devices has passed. --Lucky