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DOJ Doesn't Like the Idea of A Copyright Czar

Posted by Zonk on from the who-does-really dept.

sconeu writes "Seems as if the DOJ is not particularly happy about HR 4729, the 'Copyright Czar' bill. The Deputy AG told Congress that the current structure works quite effectively. 'Panel members also expressed concern over Section 104 of the bill, which would allow a copyright owner to collect statutory damages for each copyrighted work that is stolen. Detractors fear that this provision could result in protracted lawsuits ... Section 104, however, would penalize criminals on a per-song basis, so if someone pirated a motion picture soundtrack that had songs from 12 different artists, the pirate would be charged with 12 separate offenses and be subject to exorbitant fees.'"

3 of 215 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What does "stolen" mean? by cduffy · · Score: 3, Informative

    The RIAA provides services to various music publishers. It certainly doesn't receive money from copyright infringement suits.
    Yes, it does. Money from copyright infringement suits run by the RIAA are used, by agreement of the labels, entirely to fund the RIAA's copyright enforcement efforts. That said, those efforts -- even the legal ones standing alone -- cost much, much more than they raise.
  2. Re:It this passes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    This bill was introduced by the House Committee on the Judiciary: Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property

    California has 53 reps. The committee has 6 of those, including the chair Howard Berman.
    Florida has 25 reps. The committee has 3 of these.
    9 of the 24 reps come from Florida (Disney) and California (Disney / Hollywood). Full list follows.

    CA=6
    FL=3
    NC=2
    OH=2
    VA=2
    TX=2
    WI=1
    GA=1
    IN=1
    NY=1
    TN=1
    UT=1
    MI=1

    Rep. Adam Schiff [D-CA]
    Rep. Anthony Weiner [D-NY]
    Rep. Betty Sutton [D-OH]
    Rep. Brad Sherman [D-CA]
    Rep. Christopher Cannon [R-UT]
    Rep. Darrell Issa [R-CA]
    Rep. Elton Gallegly [R-CA]
    Rep. Frederick Boucher [D-VA]
    Rep. Henry Johnson [D-GA]
    Rep. Howard Berman [D-CA]
    Rep. Howard Coble [R-NC]
    Rep. James Sensenbrenner [R-WI]
    Rep. John Conyers [D-MI]
    Rep. Lamar Smith [R-TX]
    Rep. Melvin Watt [D-NC]
    Rep. Mike Pence [R-IN]
    Rep. Ric Keller [R-FL]
    Rep. Robert Goodlatte [R-VA]
    Rep. Robert Wexler [D-FL]
    Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D-TX]
    Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN]
    Rep. Steven Chabot [R-OH]
    Rep. Tom Feeney [R-FL]
    Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D-CA]

  3. Re:Who's Word is Copyright Czar? by kebes · · Score: 5, Informative

    Captain Copyright, on the other hand, wearing a cape, a smile, and a costume that says "Don't steal MY music" would go over much better.
    Well, it didn't go over too well in Canada.

    A "Captain Copyright" character was indeed used for awhile in Canada to promote "rights of artists." Not surprisingly, the character and comics supporting a "copyright maximalist" slant, making no mention of fair dealing (Canadian version of fair use). Furthermore, there were a few incidents where it was shown that the Captain Copyright website was, in fact, infringing copyright.

    Because of all the negative press, the character was withdrawn and the site shut down. So it looks like a cape-wearing copyright crusader is not long-lived. And luckily IP law will prevent anyone else from resurrecting that particular idea.