Salute the broadcast flag [digital protection for TV recording]

For decades, we've grown accustomed to the idea that electronic equipment gets increasingly powerful and economical with time each year, we buy more capability for the same price. Soon, however, there might be an exception. A new US Federal Communications (FCC) rule (FCC report 03-273) states that all US TV recorders made after July 2005 must recognize and obey a signal or marker in programs: the broadcast flag, that will restrict users from copying or distributing digital content. The "flag" is actually an instruction to the copying device, and although the FCC has suggested that deserving groups (such as those building systems to help the blind) might get exemptions, devices for the consumer market will have to obey it. Consequently, we could see consumers rush to buy high-definition digital TV recorders before the rule goes into effect this summer (2005).