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"Hollywood" Howard Berman To Leave Internet Subcommittee

Posted by kdawson on from the so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-laws dept.

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "'Hollywood' Howard Berman (D-CA), who chairs the House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property appears to be on the way out. He is slated to move over to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, leaving his chair on the Internet subcommittee vacant. Long known for wanting to strengthen the DMCA and backing copyright grabs like the PRO-IP Act, Berman will be missed by big media. The good news is that Rick Boucher (D-VA) may be the one to replace him. Rep. Boucher has been interviewed on Slashdot and is in favor of copyright reform. They still need to win their upcoming elections and the full Commerce Committee will still be chaired by John Conyers (D-MI), though."

42 comments

  1. Boucher by Lally+Singh · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm in Boucher's district (the fightin' 9th!). He usually runs without significant opposition. Most of the republicans also like him. He'll be re-elected.

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    1. Re:Boucher by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Offtopic, but did anyone else notice that the comments on the Slashdot Boucher interview are broken? They are in order by user ID rather than chronologically in threads.

    2. Re:Boucher by Nullav · · Score: 2, Funny

      Or perhaps posting speed is inversely proportional to the length of one's UID.

      --
      I just read Slashdot for the articles.
  2. This doesn't really seem like a win.. by stormguard2099 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If he is in charge of foreign policy won't he just try and push DMCA on other countries now?

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    http://greenobyl.com/ please.... think of the children!!
    1. Re:This doesn't really seem like a win.. by MightyYar · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah but at least he's not our problem anymore :)

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    2. Re:This doesn't really seem like a win.. by PachmanP · · Score: 1

      If he is in charge of foreign policy won't he just try and push DMCA on other countries now?

      Yup. The copyright laws are suitably draconian now in the good old US of A that the media companies can move move to big guns to the getting you foreigners in line.
      --
      You're thinking small. Why miniaturize the laser, when we could instead enlarge the sharks? -John Searle
    3. Re:This doesn't really seem like a win.. by WallyDrinkBeer · · Score: 1

      Worse than that: Informers from the IFPI indicate that Sweden may be developing the knowledge to produce weapons of mass destruction. They're all stored somewhere in a closet in the pirate bay.

    4. Re:This doesn't really seem like a win.. by Captain_Chaos · · Score: 1

      If he is in charge of foreign policy won't he just try and push DMCA on other countries now?

      It's already way too late for that... The DMCA is US's implementation of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) Copyright Treaty. Europe already has its own implementation of the treaty in the form of a set of directives which most European countries have implemented by now, some even more draconian than the DMCA. Many other countries are following. You can see them fall one by one here.

  3. So, vote the bums out! by mi · · Score: 0, Troll

    What's up, Democrats? Yeah, yeah... Troll, troll...

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    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:So, vote the bums out! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What exactly is the point of this post?

  4. Don't put your guard down by Yahma · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Okay, so Berman's out and Boucher may replace him, but that doesn't mean the fight is over. The media companies have enough money to change anyone's attitude toward copyright reform. Now would be a good time to let Boucher know (if you are in his district) that you too support copyright reform.


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    Boycott Nokia - Nokia accepts 88M Euro in subsidies from Germany, and then lays off 3000 German workers.
    1. Re:Don't put your guard down by MacDork · · Score: 1

      The media companies have enough money to change anyone's attitude toward copyright reform.

      I am aware, but at the moment, it's still GREAT news. Boucher has a pretty lengthy track record favoring the people over Hollywood. Berman on the other hand is the frickin' devil. Really, he's the anti-christ and Orin Hatch is Satan. Just getting Berman out of there is a huge victory! The only thing that could be better would be finding him under an anvil.... but to replace him with Boucher?!? That's a dream come true. I'm still skeptical... "they" won't let Boucher in there... we could never get that lucky.

    2. Re:Don't put your guard down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please put signature lines in the actual signature so that those of us who filter those things don't have to see them.

      Thanks,
      MGMT

  5. Now that copyright reform is possible... by calebt3 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...what about the long sought-after patent reform? This position wouldn't happen to have any authority in that area. would it?

  6. Cue Bob Marley by AndGodSed · · Score: 4, Funny

    No DMCA no crime...

    (sigh... go ahead... smite me...)

    --

    Seven Days with Ubuntu Unity

  7. Berman to shill for I$rael by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's pretty clear what is going on and it has nothing to do with the DMCA. He can get more money and influence for Israel on this route. Anyone that has been to his district in Hollywood knows exactly what I am talking about. Our political system has devolved into various interests and groups trying to plunder other groups. The consumers only recently learned how to play this game. James Trafficant called it exactly like it was on Berman before he left. It was quite entertaining.

  8. Don't forget about Mr. Tubes! by Nemilar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Don't forget, Ted Stevens is still a ranking member of the Senate committee on Commerce and Science.. So we've still got some nutso's hanging about.

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    Nemilar http://www.techthrob.com - Visit Me!
    1. Re:Don't forget about Mr. Tubes! by ScrewMaster · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure that Stevens qualifies as a nutso, but he certainly gives every appearance of being an ignoramus.

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  9. There they go again by nebaz · · Score: 3, Funny

    I swear, if I hear anything more about Berman and Braga screwing things up I'll ... (hold on a sec, getting some info here). (Sheepish). Sorry, wrong story.

    --
    Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
  10. Re:why the tears slashfags? by moogs · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    you forgot Nazis. If you're gonna troll at least troll properly... as it is, you're just an embarrassment to the well-established trolling community.

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    I have bad karma. What do I care what you think?
  11. Foreign Affairs? by niceone · · Score: 1

    Would that be bombing Sweden then?

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    ccalam - acoustic versions of new songs.
  12. Perhaps a lame question by zappepcs · · Score: 1

    but does anyone know of a good website that is tracking this type of information? Some place that has it all laid out, so when we hear of a politician in the news we can quickly look up what they are responsible for, and their vote record etc. ?

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    Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
    1. Re:Perhaps a lame question by MadnessASAP · · Score: 1
      Perhaps if nobody has one I should start it although I am a Canadian and we really aren't interested in what our politicians do as long as they leave us out of it.

      BTW I have dibs on www.wtfisthatpileofshit.com

      --
      I may agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to face the consequences of saying it.
    2. Re:Perhaps a lame question by ScrewMaster · · Score: 1

      Have you tried this one?

      That's a joke, son.

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  13. Re:Politics? Here's a prediction. by ilikepi314 · · Score: 1

    That's 103%. How does that work? Unless maybe its those voting machines...

  14. FAIR USE Act by underwhelm · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Boucher has a bill in the house to revise the DMCA. Don't forget to contact your congressperson to encourage them to support this necessary reform.

    --

    I don't need large brains to have a good time.

  15. only on slashdot by BCGlorfindel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Isn't moving to foreign affairs a move up?
    Isn't it even worse to have a corporate shill influencing foreign policy?
    Forgive my lack of enthusiasm, I forgot that now your internets are safe :(.

    1. Re:only on slashdot by Xeth · · Score: 1

      Yes, but when it comes to US foreign policy, all representatives are assumed to be equally incompetent.

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      If your theory is different from practice, then your theory is wrong.
    2. Re:only on slashdot by quanticle · · Score: 1

      It might seem like that, but, the fact is, Congress has a pretty weak role in US foreign policy these days. Most real foreign policy initiatives are pushed by the executive, and the legislature has a reactive "approve or deny" role. Therefore, while foreign policy might be a more prestigious assignment, the scope for coming up with new and harmful policies is more limited.

      --
      We all know what to do, but we don't know how to get re-elected once we have done it
    3. Re:only on slashdot by mqduck · · Score: 1

      Most real foreign policy initiatives are pushed by the executive, and the legislature has a reactive "approve or deny" role I assume by "approve or deny" you really meant "approve or criticize viciously and then approve".
      --
      Property is theft.
  16. Re:Politics? Here's a prediction. by Lally+Singh · · Score: 1

    As someone who's had someone ask me similar questions about results I've put up on the past (not politics, but tables of percentages), the answer's straightforward: the numbers are rounded. If given full precision on the numbers, they'll total exactly 100%.

    Well, it could also be noise in the polls. Hard to tell where they put in their margin of error.

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  17. Here are two places: by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/
    http://www.opensecrets.org/

    Good places to get started to figure out where everyone stands. Don't forget your congress critters home page, either.

    --
    Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
    1. Re:Here are two places: by Metaphorically · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Good advice. I made a couple search plugins for Firefox to help with that. There's one for OpenSecrets.org and one for the Library of Congress THOMAS system (bills and legislative information).

      --
      more of the same on Twitter.
  18. Committee on Foreign Affairs? by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    This could be far worse in the long run. WTO expansion anyone?

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    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  19. Re:why the tears slashfags? by pipatron · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I thought it was "Niggers" these days?

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  20. Boucher...Sounds Familiar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is he related to Bobby Boucher???

  21. Two words ... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 1

    "Good riddance".

    Now if we can just get him to leave Congress ...

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  22. Commerce is headed by Dingell, not Conyers by sacolcor · · Score: 1

    This article has a major fact wrong. John Conyers chairs the Judiciary Committee. John Dingell (also from Michigan) chairs the Energy and Commerce committee. While Conyers has indeed backed Hollywood's positions on copyright, Dingell has not - at least, not as strongly.