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Copyright Law Mashup Moving Through Congress

The Importance of writes "The INDUCE Act may be dead (for now), but that doesn't mean that Congress won't pass any copyright laws this year. Right now, HR 4077, the "Piracy Deterrence in Education" bill pulls together a number of different initiatives to not only get the government involved in civil copyright enforcement, but change fundamental definitions in copyright, and make certain types of home video viewing illegal. The Senate version (brought to you by Sen. Hatch and Leahy) adds even more copyright law changes. According to Public Knowledge, 'The recording industry and Hollywood are making headway! Threatening bills are positioned to move possibly today or tomorrow (yes, even Saturday!) in the Senate and we need your help, now. Not only do they want to rewrite copyright law (again) to lower the standard required for criminal enforcement of copyright infringement; but now they're changing how you watch TV or DVDs in your own home! The bills (H.R. 4077 and H.R. 2391) also are written to make the way you use iTunes and WiFi a crime. '"

2 of 352 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Cannot skip content by deblau · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    No one has a right to FORCE you to buy the DVD, or to watch TV. If you buy their product, you play by their rules. Your choice -- make it a good one.

    --
    This post expresses my opinion, not that of my employer. And yes, IAAL.
  2. Re:As it has been it will be by Simonetta · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I'm watching the US from a distance,... how can you stop American politicians from being legally bribed?

    Maybe you can give us some help here. How exactly do you keep the politicians honest and concerned with public welfare in this place where you 'watch the US from a distance'?

    This isn't a flamebait. It just a question; what do people do in the place you are to keep the political process working and balanced?

    Do you put reporters in jail when they write about political payoffs in the newspapers? This keeps stories of bad pols out of the public mind and has everyone thinking all that 'stuff' that takes place in America can't happen here.

    Do you have no corrupt politicians? Then the government in this magical place called 'a distance' runs a complete stagnant society, nothing ever changes, and it never occurs to anyone that anything could change. There is no western media exposure to 'bad influences'.

    On and On..