IP: DMCA

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

-----Original Message-----
From: "Schulze,Shawn M"<SSCHULZE () Travelers com>
Sent: 8/13/02 3:46:55 PM
To: "farber () cis upenn edu"<farber () cis upenn edu>
Subject: RE: DMCA

It still bothers me that despite the millions of people who said that
the DMCA was a bad idea it was passed unanimously. Is that to say that
regardless of what we say think or believe as the average American
citizen we will always be vetoed, pushed aside and ignored by the
political world?

The attack of the internet society being pushed by Hollywood and
executed by the political soldiers is ridiculous. I am convinced that
the people making these decisions are so disconnected and so misinformed
that they are essentially mindless pawns in someone else's war. I
believe and feel that now more then ever we need qualified councils to
review any new legal proposals and make an informed decision because
currently our leaders are failing. (IMHO)

So I propose we lobby for a set of councils that review and can veto
bills before they ever make it to congress. They can't pass them they
can just preemptively veto them or pass them along with recommendations.
A technology council, agriculture council and as many councils that are
needed to make an informed decision based on the facts and their field
of expertise. So if a technological council were to review the DMCA they
would laugh kind of childishly to themselves and wait for a revised copy
that makes a little more sense. Life in prison for defacing a website?
Again the could all snicker a bit and propose a fine instead. Defacing a
website and killing someone should not carry the same penalty regardless
of the message Washington is trying to send.

Just thought I would voice my opinion since my cries against the DMCA
fell on empty ears.


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