FC: Double-headed draft bill curtails fair use -- but aids webcasters

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Text of draft bill:
http://www.politechbot.com/docs/coble.berman.bill.071102.pdf

Previous Politech articles:

"House committee asks for views on digital copyright, 4/8 deadline"
http://www.politechbot.com/p-03278.html

"Rep. Howard Berman declares war on P2P networks, plans new laws"
http://www.politechbot.com/p-03702.html

---

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-943134.html

   Copies, Webcasters tangled in draft bill
   By Declan McCullagh 

   July 11, 2002, 11:35 AM PT
   WASHINGTON--Legislators are readying a bill that could sharply limit
   Americans' rights relating to copying music, taping TV shows or
   transferring files through the Internet.
   
   At the same time, the draft legislation seen by CNET News.com would
   place the struggling Webcasting industry on firmer legal footing.
   
   Two key House legislators wrote the double-edged proposal in
   consultation with the Library of Congress' Copyright Office. They
   appear likely to introduce it this month.
   
   The creation of the two-part draft comes as politicians and judges are
   grappling with the slippery mix of high-speed Net access, digital
   content and the popularity of file-swapping networks. Last week,
   record labels hinted they might broaden their legal fusillade to
   encompass lawsuits against individuals.
   
   Reps. Howard Coble of North Carolina and Howard Berman of California,
   who authored the draft, say their proposed changes to copyright law
   follow suggestions made last August by the Copyright Office.
   
   "The Copyright Office recommended that Congress amend the Copyright
   Act," the two politicians wrote in a five-page letter sent last month
   to members of the subcommittee that oversees intellectual property.
   Coble is the Republican chairman of the panel and Berman, who
   announced plans last month for an unrelated bill assailing
   peer-to-peer networks, is the senior Democrat.

   [...]



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