FC: Is Rep. Boucher's online-music licensing bill constitutional?

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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From: "Jeffrey Mazzella" <jmazzella () cfif org>
To: "Declan McCullagh" <declan () well com>
Subject: Re: Compulsory Licensing of Music on the Internet
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:44:50 -0400
Organization: CFIF

Declan --

CFIF recently commissioned a paper (link below) entitled, "Taking" Away 
Music Copyrights, in response to the introduction of the Music Online 
Competition Act, introduced by Reps. Boucher and Cannon.  The Paper asks 
the question: Does compulsory licensing of music on the Internet violate 
the Fifth Amendment s Takings Clause? We believe a substantive argument can 
be made that it does.

While the Constitution grants to Congress the authority to protect 
copyrights as a property right through Article I and the Fifth Amendment, 
compulsory licensing, although providing some compensation to copyright 
holders, destroys one s right to negotiate terms for the use of 
intellectual property. In addition, Congress should resist its temptation 
to intervene in the private marketplace for intellectual property rights by 
imposing compulsory licensing that discourages private negotiation and 
inhibits the development of marketplace solutions.

To read the paper, click on: 
<http://www.cfif.org/5_8_2001/Free_line/current/free_line_copyright.htm>http://www.cfif.org/5_8_2001/Free_line/current/free_line_copyright.htm

I believe the politechbot list might find it interesting.

Regards,

Jeffrey Mazzella
Vice President, Legislative Affairs
Center for Individual Freedom
901 N. Washington St., Suite 402
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-535-5836
<http://www.cfif.org>www.cfif.org




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