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Consumer and public interest groups won a substantial victory May 6, 2005 as the U.S. Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit reversed and vacated the Federal Communications Commission's "broadcast flag" order. But the battle is not over, although the courts are trying to protect consumers, the film and TV industries are trying to convince Congress to create a way for the FCC to reinstate the Broadcast Flag.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is making it possible for consumers to write to Congress in an effort to protect consumers’ rights to control recording, copying, transferring, or replaying over-the-air digital television.

You can go to the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s website and tell your representative to knock out the Broadcast Flag for good.

The case, which was brought by Public Knowledge, Consumers Union, the Consumer Federation of America, the American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, American Association of Law Libraries, Medical Library Association and the Special Libraries Association, prevents the FCC from requiring that manufacturers use digital technology to prevent copying - even legal copying - of television programs.  Public Knowledge has published a summary of the decision. 

Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America issued a press release describing the impact of the decision. To get more information on the case and protecting consumer rights visit What's at Stake: Broadcast Flag.