FC: Law libraries oppose UCITA, now targeting Maryland Senate

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[Forwarded with permission, phone numbers removed]

*********

> Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 08:43:13 -0500
> From: "Mary Alice Baish" <BAISH () wpgate law3 georgetown edu>
> To: declan () well com
> Subject:  UCITA
>
> Dear Declan,
>
> As a lobbyist for the American Association of Law Libraries, I am grateful 
> for all your work in keeping us informed about very important 
> Internet-related issues.
>
> Have you heard much about UCITA?  We in the library community established 
> a coalition last fall (www.4cite.org) which now includes consumer groups, 
> insurance companies and other businesses, to stop UCITA from enactment.
>
> Despite lots of hard work, it was recently enacted in VA and on Tuesday 
> was passed by the Maryland House of Delegates after lengthy debate, 
> 83-50.  It's now up to the Senate Finance Committee working group to 
> determine the next step.  The legislative session ends on April 10th and 
> UCITA is heavily supported by the leadership.
>
> As you know, MS, AOL and the mega-publishers are the key proponents of the 
> bill; Hollywood and others got their carve-out just as they did in 
> VA.  Consumers and libraries are going to be harmed if this measure 
> passes; in a nutshell, our major concern is that UCITA replaces the public 
> law of copyright with the private law of contract.
>
> I would be pleased to share more info with you.  Other contacts are: James 
> Neal, Dean of Libraries, Johns Hopkins (410.xxx.xxxx);  Prof. Charles 
> Shafer--consumer issues (410.xxx.xxxx); Jon Band--reverse engineering 
> (202.xxx.xxxx)
>
> Also, UCITA was to have been part of the UCC until the American Law 
> Institute dropped out last spring in opposition to NCCULS's draft and the 
> process behind it.  One of the most comprehensive web sites to find out 
> more of the history and opposition is at:  www.badsoftware.com
>
> I hope that you might look into this and write a piece about UCITA that 
> will help inform folks and get them up in arms, especially in Maryland.
>
> Sincerely,
> Mary Alice Baish
>
> =====================================
> Mary Alice Baish
> Associate Washington Affairs Representative
> E.B. Williams Law Library
> Georgetown University Law Center
> 111 G Street, N.W.
> Washington, DC 20001-1417
> Voice:  202.662.9200
> Fax:  202.662.9202
> E-mail:  baish () law georgetown edu
> Internet:  www.ll.georgetown.edu/aallwash

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