From: A. D. Brown (ADBrown_at_Brownbearpress.net)
Date: Fri Oct 11 2002 - 17:48:16 EDT
Thought I'd pass this on for those who don't subscribe to the EFF's
newsletter.
* ALERT: Tell Congress to Support Rep. Boucher & Doolittle's Digital
Media Consumers' Rights Act!
Representatives Rick Boucher and John Doolittle recently introduced
the Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act (DMCRA, H.R. 5544), which
would introduce labelling requirements for usage-impaired "copy-
protected" compact discs, as well as several amendments to 1998's
infamous Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
The DMCRA would:
~ Require clear, visible labels for "copy-protected" audio compact
discs that identify their limitations and applicable return
policies.
~ Restore consumers' fair use rights by amending Section 1201 of the
DMCA to allow circumvention of copy protection for non-infringing
uses of the material. For example, it would allow someone to bypass
the copy protection on a lawfully purchased DVD in order to view it
on a computer running Linux.
~ Protect innovative, multi-purpose technologies. The DMCRA codifies
a doctrine, outlined by the Supreme Court in its 1984 "Betamax"
decision, which states that technologies with "substantial non-
infringing uses" cannot be stifled by copyright holders.
Use your voice to protect your digital fair use rights! After several
years on legislative defense, this is your opportunity to let
Congress know that we want positive changes to the DMCA. Tell your
friends, tell your family, but first TELL CONGRESS!
Take action here:
http://action.eff.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=2224
-=end=-----------------------------------------------------------
* Alert: Tell Congress to Support Rep. Lofgren's Digital Choice and
Freedom Act!
Representative Zoe Lofgren recently introduced the Digital Choice and
Freedom Act (DCFA, H.R. 5522), which would reform the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), restrict shrink-wrap licenses that
harm the public's rights, explicitly allow backups and format-
shifting for copyrighted materials, and protect the public's rights
in copyright on several fronts.
Among other things, Lofgren's bill would:
~ Allow consumers to make backup copies of digital works.
~ Explicitly allow format shifting of legally obtained material
amongst digital devices.
~ Codify a "first sale" right for digital media, which would allow
the public to sell, lend, or give away digital media products that
they have lawfully obtained.
~ Permit the circumvention of "content protection" technologies in
order to make noninfringing uses of copyrighted works.
Use your voice to protect your rights! After several years on
legislative defense, this is your opportunity to let Congress know
that we want positive changes to our unbalanced copyright law. Tell
your friends, tell your family, but first TELL CONGRESS!
Take action here:
http://action.eff.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=2225
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.3 : Thu Jan 23 2003 - 09:59:29 EST