This morning a US Court of Appeals killed the broadcast flag, something that would have effectively prevented you from recording certain television broadcasts and then using those recordings for your personal use in whatever manner you see fit. After a certain date, all home theater hardware sold in the US was to be ‘broadcast flag-enabled’ to prevent illicit copying of audiovisual materials across different devices.

The ruling today (PDF) basically says that the FCC had no authority to mandate the creation and enforcement of the broadcast flag.

As the television industry slowly moves toward an all-digital use of the broadcast spectrum this is GREAT news for consumers who value a high-quality television experience!