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Texas SB 1116 (Super DMCA) Hearing On 6 May 2003

Posted by timothy on from the get-some-amy's-ice-cream-too dept.

mrand writes "The Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice has a public hearing scheduled at 1 P.M. tomorrow (Tuesday, 6 May 2003) for the Senate version of the Texas Super DMCA bill. It appears that it will be held in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, in Austin. For everyone that is able to attend, the Tennessee Digital Freedom Network has put together some great information for fighting this. For those of you in other states, visit the EFF page on Super DMCA for bill numbers and their status."

5 of 38 comments (clear)

  1. Lobbying Austin: Witness Affirmation Form by egoff · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you can't make it to Austin, you can fill out a Witness Affirmation Form and fax it the subcommittee (fax:512-475-3737). The form can be filled downloaded from this PDF, on page 53. This form states for the committee your opinion on the bill at hand. You can testify against SB 1116 without speaking before the committee. This lets the subcommittee know your opinion on the matter without having to appear in person. One final note, this is an old version of the witness affirmation form; however its close enough to the current version that I think it should be acceptable.

  2. Re:Action now! - Witness Affirmation Form. by egoff · · Score: 4, Informative
    After getting the form at this link, page 53 (see above), here are the fields to fill out. The field names are in bold, your response is in italics.

    Committee On: Criminal Justice
    Hearing Site: E1.106
    Date 05/06/2003
    I do not wish to testify but wish to register as indicated (check this box)
    against (check this box)
    Subject Matter SB 1116
    Name Your Name
    Occupation, Profession, or Business Your Job, the More IT sounding the better
    Address Fields Your Address (TX preferrable, not required)
    In appearing before this committee I represent: check myself, unless you're filing on behalf on an organization

    Then, sign your name on the signature of witness line, and fax to 512-475-3737.

  3. Read the Full Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    I just read the law and I don't see any problems. This is not the scary stuff I've heard about in other states. Then again, it looks like a lot of the bill has been crossed out. I didn't try to read what it said before.

    1. Re:Read the Full Law by Hungus · · Score: 3, Informative

      It is actually much better than most of them because it states routinely you must have "with the intent to harm
      or defraud a communication service". Even so its penalties and some other things are still out of bounds.

      I am in the dallas area and will be going to austin for this tomarrow. I can take up to 3 other people anyone interested in a road trip?

      I am going to go way out on a limb here and publish my phone number should anyone wnt to come along it is 469-766-5431 ask for Robert.

      --
      Bad Panda! No Bamboo for you! In matters of importance ACs will not be responded to. Want to say something critical,OK
  4. Re:How bad is this compared to others? by egoff · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Even if the Texas law isn't as bad, and I'll wait for an EFF lawyer before making that decision, the law getting passed in Texas could contribute to a snowball effect for other states. An MPAA lobbyist could easily argue "We've had no serious issues in all these other states; its no big deal, just an update to existing laws." Protecting Texas from this bill can protect other states in the future, and perhaps the nation as a whole. How many times have you read about a bill before Congress, in an article that included the phrase "27 of the 50 states have already passed versions of the bill..."