Industry groups barred from closed-door Induce Act talks [ip]

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
Date: October 1, 2004 12:55:41 AM EDT
To: politech@politechbot.com
Subject: [Politech] Industry groups barred from closed-door Induce Act 
talks [ip]



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Key Industry Groups Barred from Senate Copyright Negotiations
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 13:26:07 -0400
From: Gregory N. Minchak <GMinchak@ccianet.org>
To: gminchak@ccianet.org

Computer & Communications Industry Association
Phone 202.783.2942 Fax 202.783.0534
www.ccianet.org

Please contact:
Will Rodger, 202-783-0070 x 105
Gregory Minchak, 202-783-0070 x 109

For Immediate Release
September 30, 2004


Major industry group barred from meeting on INDUCE Act

Today, staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee are meeting with a 
fraction
of supporters and opponents of S. 2560, widely known as the INDUCE Act.

The Computer & Communications Industry Association, along with dozens of
other commercial, consumer and non-profit interests, will not be
participating. CCIA, which represent companies with more than $200 
billion
in sales and 1 million employees worldwide, was specifically told not to
appear last night by Senator Hatch's Office.

The bill on its face will hamper innovation and harm consumers: Armed 
with
a new cause of action, Hollywood lawyers will have the power to bring 
suit
against any technology, telecommunications or consumer electronics 
company
that produces a product or service that could be used to infringe
copyright. Put simply, it covers virtually every recording, duplication
and information technology device today – even the Internet itself.

Perhaps worst of all, S. 2560 cannot work: The odds that other countries
will adopt such draconian legislation are slim to none. Several European
commentators have quipped that they should ready themselves for a wave 
of
immigration by US high-tech talent if this bill becomes law.

Drafters have failed to account for interests of the public at large.  
The
bill's authors have thus far ignored virtually every suggestion put 
forth
by CCIA and a group of 50 companies, non-profits and trade associations
over the past three months. Opponents of the bill have submitted 
numerous
proposals and amendments. Yet, despite their good faith efforts, they 
have
received no substantive critiques of their work and have been labeled
"obstructionist".

The stakes involved are high.

Examples of the sorts of devices likely to be affected by this proposal
include:

VCRs
Optical disk recorders
Radio receivers
Audio devices
Instant Messenger
Personal computers
iPods and other personal music players
Online music services
The Internet itself

CCIA, together with computer, telecommunications and consumer 
electronics
companies, libraries, universities, consumer advocates and electronics
retailers everywhere opposes S. 2560. We urge the Senate to reject this
bill.

###

Created in 1972, CCIA has long been active in litigation and legislative
activities involving copyright and other intellectual property issues, 
ISP
liability, and competition policy.  CCIA members include Sun 
Microsystems,
Oracle, Yahoo, Red Hat, Nokia and Verizon.


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