The Recording Industry Association of America said
Wednesday that it has begun pressing for anti-copying technology in
future digital radio standards.

Mitch Glazier, the association's top lobbyist, said the RIAA is
contacting IT and consumer electronics groups to ask them to consider
a "broadcast flag" for digital music sent through the Internet,
satellite or cable.

The idea is straightforward: Future hardware and software would treat
music differently if it were designated as broadcast-only, preventing
users from saving it or uploading it. Currently programs like
StreamRipper or StreamCatcher can record streaming music distributed
through Webcasting.

But because people might not use these new kinds of music receivers if
given a choice, new federal laws likely would be necessary to compel
software and hardware manufacturers to abide by the broadcast-only
designation.