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Who Will Obama Choose As Copyright Czar?

Posted by timothy on from the lessig-has-my-bet dept.

seanpark writes "Who will President Elect Obama select for the recently established post of Copyright Czar? Biden has a longstanding relationship with Big Content, and he was partly responsible for the PRO-IP Act that created the position. The short list according to the article includes a few lobbyists (who would likely be disqualified by stringent ethical guidelines) and Lawrence Lessig, who was a technology adviser to the Obama Campaign."

7 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. Not the good professor by symbolset · · Score: 5, Interesting

    He's a wise choice, a rational voice is a sea of stupidity. Picking him would represent a striking change, a sudden outbreak of common sense.

    Therefore it ain't gonna happen.

    --
    Help stamp out iliturcy.
    1. Re:Not the good professor by yetijoe · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I feel you have a point. But I feel the first question we need to ask is will this position have any real power. Because if there is no real power then who care who is picked.

      I see it going down one of two ways. 1. Obama is able to use the capital that he has gained an push this through rather quickly and having congress act as a rubber stamp.

      2. There are bigger priorities than this in the Obama administration (economy, war). As a result this is placed on the back burner. Corporate interests therefore have more time to react and press members of congress to vote against making a copyright czar have any real power. As a result this initiative dies or must be used as a bargaining chip once things get harder to push through congress.

      I think we should not be asking who he will chose yet, but rather how large of a priority is he going to make this.

    2. Re:Not the good professor by spazdor · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Mr. Valenti, what would you say is the most valuable class of intellectual property under your purview?"
      "BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAINS"

      --
      DRM: Terminator crops for your mind!
  2. He had the good sense... by alexborges · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Of having lessig on his team. Lets hope he still has that now that he is heading to The House.

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    NO SIG
  3. Our new Copyright Czar by Archiviste · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... I heard that Darl McBride is looking for a new job...

  4. I think it's between these 3 guys by syousef · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_II_of_Russia

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_Great

    http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b2ivanIV.htm

    I vote for Peter the Great. His painting looks friendly and we all know how important image is in a copyright Czar.

    --
    These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
  5. RMS by perlhacker14 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wouldn't it be apallingly hilarious if RMS was consulted or even appointed? Come on, RMS for Copyright Czar- defender of our freedoms. Seriously though, he does have some good ideas on reform, as seen at (stallman.org).