Buy your DRM-loving senator an iPod

Ok, let's set this up. So apparently an 82-year old Alaskan Senator (by the name of Stevens, sir) was given an iPod by his daughter, which resulted in his finally coming to understand how real people interact with real technology, and supposedly thusly found content execs getting the third degree as a result of it. How quaint; do we believe the story's just that simple? No, but IPac (the Intellectual Property Action Committee) believes that by getting people together to buy iPods for "Senators who work on legislation affecting technology" they'll be doing us all a favor, presumably by giving these old fuddy duddy luddites a chance to see how restrictive and ridiculous Big Content really is in the real world. Ok, sure we find it touching that each senator receives their shiny new iPod with "listen to the people" engraved on the back and a letter of explanation and a list of people who bought it for them -- but can we be straight up for a second? Are you really about to donate money to buy new toys for the rich and powerful in the hope that it proves some kind of point or sways them into pro-consumerist action? We know we say vote with your money a lot, but this time we just encourage you to vote with your freaking vote.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[daschupa @ Feb 1st 2006 4:21PM]

Holy crap, i thought that was a shrunken midget with a mohawk in the pics at first. Thought we were buying ipods for the vegetales for a sec. Anyhoo, yes, maybe we can get that old guy who make instructional videos on how to click your start button to teach them how to use them. Do they sell Ipods with a 10" scrolling wheel?

[sid @ Feb 1st 2006 4:26PM]

if you want to show someone how restrictive drm can be, get them to use a sony product that requires you to use sonicstage. So far I have not come upon anything more cumbersome and limiting to use.

[Kurt @ Feb 1st 2006 4:32PM]

I started doing this a long time ago and, let me tell you, they don't even use what you send them. I actually sent a Speak & Spell to my governor when I lived in Texas in 1998 and, believe me, it's obvious that he's never used it.

And now that I live in California, I betrothed a technological gift to the entire state a couple of years ago. Apparently a robot sent from the future to help save the past is exactly what California wanted.

[bmoctta @ Feb 1st 2006 4:41PM]

I bet they are all funding this venture, maybe the overall cost for them is cheaper than buying an iPod. An evolved freeipod.com plan by them. But with that much money, a massive scam like that would be a waste of time. Then again, they waste alot of that there...

[epp_b @ Feb 1st 2006 4:55PM]

Even better: buy a politician a SonyBMG CD. If that doesn't straighten them out, nothing will.

[Samuel Febres @ Feb 1st 2006 4:56PM]

I think it's a great idea quite honestly. These folks (legislators), think that we, the general public are out their stealing all these things from these poor little content providers, when in reality, the majority of us aren't. We're just trying to use and take advantage of what we've already purchased and bought.

Anyway, somebody should get that senator one of Sony's old DRM'ed root kit CD's and have him try to import music onto his new ipod and see how he likes it.

[Robert Jacobson @ Feb 1st 2006 5:16PM]

It's a great idea in principle, but won't work.

The Senate ethics rules clearly prohibit any senator from accepting a gift ("anything of monetary value") from anyone worth more than $49.99. The senators won't be able to accept these. This is money down the tubes.

http://ethics.senate.gov/downloads/pdffiles/overview.pdf

[Josh Warner @ Feb 1st 2006 5:17PM]

#2: 'more cumbersome and limited to use' ... I guess you never had a Sony MiniDisc player that used OpenMG Jukebox? SonicStage seems positively open in comparison ...

Doesn't change your point. Sony is still THE WORST when it comes to DRM and restrictiveness - as a consumer, you just can't do worse than to go Sony.

[Finished.Law.School @ Feb 1st 2006 5:21PM]

This is a perfect example of how out of touch and fucking clueless politicians are to technology...

[Dan Rosenbaum @ Feb 1st 2006 5:22PM]

I think maybe Maria Cantwell (D-WA) already has hers. Remember, she was a senior exec at Real Networks, who used her IPO money to buy (umm... run for) her seat. Anyone know if she's down with DRM?

[TVGenius @ Feb 1st 2006 5:29PM]

"Senate ethics rules"...

Come on... HOW has nobody jumped on that one yet...?

[Roopesh Sheth @ Feb 1st 2006 5:33PM]

Buy them a Creative Zen Vision:M, so they'll at least have options on content rather than iTunes... or maybe buy them an iPod so they can see how shitty world will be if they don't do something about DRM and Apple.

[Justin @ Feb 1st 2006 5:41PM]

The Senate ethics rules clearly prohibit any senator from accepting a gift ("anything of monetary value") from anyone worth more than $49.99.

well heck, I'm worth about....$11 and two bus tickets right now, could I donate?

[Tim @ Feb 1st 2006 5:48PM]

Ryan, at the end of your post you encouraged all of us loyal Engadget readers "to vote with your freaking vote". Now, you might not be familiar with this concept, but Washington lobbyists are hired every day by Sony/BMG, the RIAA, and the MPAA to purchase gifts for senators. Thse might be cigars, or rides in fancy jets to their next fundraiser, but they are gifts nonetheless.

Take a look at which laws have been passed in recent years and which have not. Is Fair Use prevailing in our legal system? Are the content providers dictacting how I can use my computer, my iPod, the DVD's I purchased?

In light of these observations, then, which is more powerful -- a gift or a vote? Hmmmm ... yeah, I think I'll be donating five bucks to buy my senator an iPod. When he can't watch movies on it because of the DMCA and the CSS encryption system, then something might actually be done about it. Till then, have fun voting!

[Nick @ Feb 1st 2006 5:57PM]

OR you could NOT buy an iPod, for yourself, or anyone else.
That way, you've exercised your right to shut the hell up.

[AlexF @ Feb 1st 2006 6:40PM]

I've emailed the president of IPac to get his comments on how this campaign fits into senate lobbying rules. I'll post his response if he gets back to me.

In addition to the link above, the document "Lobbying Congress: An Overview of Legal Provisions and Congressional Ethics Rules" (http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL31126.pdf)
states on page 15:

"Both the House and Senate Rules provide a de minimis exception for gifts from private sources, and allow for the acceptance of a gift (including the gift of a meal) if the gift has a value of less than $50"
-House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(1)(B)
-Senate Rule 35, cl. 1(a)(2)

Aside from this little problem, I think buying members of congress iPods and TiVos is a fantastic idea. Unfortunately an iPod video may not be "de minimis" enough.

-Alex

[AlexF @ Feb 1st 2006 6:50PM]

Aren't Senators prohibited from receiving gifts?

Senators are prohibited from receiving gifts that exceed $50, but in-kind donations to their campaigns are subject to different rules. We'll be sending these iPods to their campaign offices, and we'll be encouraging them to use the devices for "campaign related" activities like watching news clips and learning about important constituent issues like balanced copyright.
http://ipaction.org/campaigns/ipod/faq.htmlAren't Senators prohibited from receiving gifts?

Senators are prohibited from receiving gifts that exceed $50, but in-kind donations to their campaigns are subject to different rules. We'll be sending these iPods to their campaign offices, and we'll be encouraging them to use the devices for "campaign related" activities like watching news clips and learning about important constituent issues like balanced copyright.
http://ipaction.org/campaigns/ipod/faq.html

[dacmonJ @ Feb 1st 2006 7:40PM]

#12, if the old geezers have trouble using an iPod/iTunes I shudder to think of them trying to use Creative's crap to get tunes to a DAP.

[Scott @ Feb 1st 2006 8:33PM]

Alex- I had the exact same question and was even in the process of sending the same e-mail. In the process I re-read the release and saw that IPAC intends to donate the ipod's to the election campaign committes for the Senators. This should have no problem getting around the ethics issues you brought up. Good to know they're working so hard to reform the ethics rules on gift donations isn't it.

[mike @ Feb 1st 2006 10:47PM]

You know, that picture is wrong. the headphone jack on an ipod video is on the far right side of the device.

Just thought I'd bring that up : )

[SH @ Feb 1st 2006 11:16PM]

No, no no: Tiki Bar TV and the latest video from Fall Out Boy are not going to turn on the lightbulbs over the heads of Congress.

Of course, if they pre-load those muthas with the engadget podcast, maybe. I can just see Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy rocking out to the latest track from Ryan and Peter. I don't know if even that magical goodness would be an antidote to klanalicious water-treading, but man, wouldn't you love to see Trent Lott and Harry Reid 'jacking each other's playlists? Mmm, that's down-home politicking!

[Walt @ Feb 2nd 2006 12:11AM]

Maybe the Senators can use the iPod on their "fact-finding" and "educational" all-expense-paid trips for themselves and their families to Brazil, Italy, Rio etc sponsored by the RIAA or by foundations whose boards just happen to be made up of RIAA lobbyists. Before they deposit that RIAA contribution check in their warchest. The rules need to be changed. If the level of outrage after the Abramoff scandal can be maintained, maybe the ability of these companies to influence the Senate can by slightly attenuated. Every significant corporate or union contribution to a political candidate is at its core a bribe.

[Ima Pseudonym @ Feb 2nd 2006 1:23PM]

VOTE!! But only if you have done your research.

Most of the young people didn't bother in the previous prez election and you can see the result.