IP: Sen. Hollings plans to introduce DMCA sequel: The SSSCA AND IT AIN'T GOOD

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
>
>Text of SSSCA draft bill:
>http://www.politechbot.com/docs/hollings.090701.html
>
>Politech archive on DMCA:
>http://www.politechbot.com/cgi-bin/politech.cgi?name=dmca
>
>---
>
>http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,46655,00.html
>
>    New Copyright Bill Heading to DC
>    By Declan McCullagh (declan@wired.com)
>    4:19 p.m. Sep. 7, 2001 PDT
>
>    WASHINGTON -- Music and record industry lobbyists are quietly readying
>    an all-out assault on Congress this fall in hopes of dramatically
>    rewriting copyright laws.
>
>    With the help of Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.), the powerful chairman of the
>    Senate Commerce committee, they hope to embed copy-protection controls
>    in nearly all consumer electronic devices and PCs. All types of
>    digital content, including music, video and e-books, are covered.
>
>    The Security Systems Standards and Certification Act (SSSCA),
>    scheduled to be introduced by Hollings, backs up this requirement with
>    teeth: It would be a civil offense to create or sell any kind of
>    computer equipment that "does not include and utilize certified
>    security technologies" approved by the federal government.
>
>    It also creates new federal felonies, punishable by five years in
>    prison and fines of up to $500,000. Anyone who distributes copyrighted
>    material with "security measures" disabled or has a network-attached
>    computer that disables copy protection is covered.
>
>    Hollings' draft bill, which Wired News obtained on Friday, represents
>    the next round of the ongoing legal tussle between content holders and
>    their opponents, including librarians, programmers and open-source
>    advocates.
>
>    [...]
>
>
>
>
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