Video game czar: More countries need a DMCA

WASHINGTON--The controversial U.S. law that generally bars people from tampering with copy-protection features drew accolades on Wednesday from the video game industry's chief executive.

Entertainment Software Association chief Mike Gallagher

(Credit: U.S. Department of Commerce)

Mike Gallagher, CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, applauded the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act as "vitally important" for video game and console makers seeking to stomp out unauthorized copies of their wares.

Thanks to digital-rights management mechanisms, Gallagher claimed unauthorized copies of popular video games like Halo 3 that users download from file-sharing networks won't play on XBox 360, ensuring "the full value of the product is received throughout the chain." (In case you were wondering, the worldwide video game industry pulls in $31 billion in revenue per year today and expects to see that figure grow to $50 billion by 2011, he said.)

The problem is, "very few countries follow the path of the DMCA," Gallagher said at an antipiracy summit here hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "It's very important (that) we see that extended."

Gallagher went on to declare the United States the "beacon of intellectual property protection in the world."

And just to toot America's horn a bit more, the former Bush administration Commerce Department official lamented that European regulators are going after companies like Microsoft (an ESA member), Qualcomm and Intel because of what he called their "strength and genius and know-how." He suggested those proceedings pose a challenge "to all of us who would see ourselves as becoming successful."

[`WarpKat]

We need the DMCA...

...like we need a clueless President.

[Leria]

I agree wholeheartedly

I agree wholeheartedly with that statement. The only thing the DMCA has done is take away our Fair Use rights in the United States and put us at the mercy of the big media companies.

What we really need is for countries to REPEAL the DMCA's that they have passed, tell the companies that they are not going to help them shore up their failing, 1970's business models, and tell them to start changing to the things that customers want: online distribution, personally making the discs for movies themselves, etc.

[paulej]

And..

And we got one of those!

[paulej]

Somebody explain...

In what way did the DMCA help protect Halo 3? Is there something in the XBox that detects the illegal copy, or is he saying the law itself stopped pirates from copying the game?

Back in the 80s, I don't think people were running around trying to pirate Atari 2600 games, either. So, should I attribute that to DMCA (in spite of the fact it did not exist)?

I'm confused. Can somebody explain how the DMCA has been a benefit?

[sismoc]

America has become the "beacon of how to buy laws to protect your business"

The DMCA is one of the worst laws ever bought and paid for. I am ashamed to live in a country that has sunk so low.