The US general public probably don’t currently know who the Broadcast Protection Discussion Group (BPDG) , or in fact they may never know, but one thing is for sure - if the BPDG’s recently drafted proposal is taken up, the public’s understanding of TV shows and their ability of record them will change for ever.

The core of the idea is to ‘ensure no analogue leaks’ (their words) from the broadcast of shows to the point they hit your eyeballs - by forcing all electronics manufacturers to build-in decryption just before it’s displayed on the screen. There are many things wrong with this approach, some of them highlighted in an EFF blog.

We await to see if the decades of media group lobbying has been good value - as it is thought that BPDG will next approach Congress and the FCC to support the proposal.

On this day, years gone by ...

• Microsoft DRM: A Blunt Knife - 2008
• Gmail Contacts Upgraded: Good Job - 2008
• HTC Smartphone Launch, London - 2007
• VIA Intros The $600 NanoBook Ultraportable Laptop - 2007
• 200m DSL Customers Worldwide: China Broadband Numbers Huge - 2007
• Mobile Users Drop £342m Of Phones Down The Pan - 2007
• Scythe PowerWatch Panel For PC Modders - 2006
• Suekage SOIOS Panoramic 55-Cam 360 Webcam - 2006
• Sony Alpha 100 SLR Camera Specs Leaked - 2006
• TalkTalk 'Free' Broadband Hits Problems - 2006