Hollywood wants to control your podcasts

Anyone flying up to Portland next week for the Podcast Hotel?

From Podcasthotel.com: Questions Surface About Podshow License. Excerpt:

Cory Doctorow looks at the contract for PodShow and the Podsafe Music Network and comes up with some issues that he says should raise concerns about free expression.

Namely, it puts control into the hands of the music labels about what is said on any podcast show that uses the service.

The problem is that in return for access to PodCast music, you agree to a license that prohibits you from referencing “software piracy (warez, cracking, etc.), hacking, phreaking, emulators, ROM’s, or illegal MP3 activity” or saying anything “deemed unsuitable or harmful to the reputation of PodShow or the Licensor.”

This is pretty nuts. Since when does the guy who provides the music to the radio station get to dictate what you’re allowed to talk about? Is the price of commercial music in a PodCast that you have to yield unlimited, arbitrary editorial control to a music label?

And it gets worse — under the terms of the license, you also agree to pay legal costs and damages to PodShow if you say something that gets them sued — even if the judge eventually finds in your favor.