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In today’s hearing on the DMCRA, former congressman Allan Swift delivered this testimony. He’s been home taping since before the introduction of the LP. Some choice quotes:

Look at the history of the recording industries. They have always distrusted new technology. If Hollywood had been given its way the video tapes and DVDs, from which they now make a great percentage of their profits, would have been smothered in their bassinettes. This Committee reported out a perfectly absurd bill that – the industry claimed – was essential to prevent the Digital Audio Tape (DAT) machines from destroying the recording industry. Now you can hardly find a DAT machine – except for commercial purposes.

This is a clear opportunity to draw a balance between protecting the legitimate copyright interests of the industries involved and the legitimate rights of the average American consumer – who, let us remember, is not in the wholesale pirating business. Others do that. The American consumer is no threat to these industries. Instead, they are the industries’ source of wealth. I own 3,000 CDs at an average price of say – conservatively – $13 each. You do the math. You will find not only that my hobby spending is out of control. You will also find that I am – like other American consumers – a profit center for these businesses. It is about time they treated us with a little respect.