Two New Bills Aim To Give Consumers Their Rights Back On Software

Shaith · Oct 7, 2002, 07:04 AM

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, plans to introduce the ``Digital Choice and Freedom Act,'' Silicon Valley's response to a host of Hollywood-backed bills tilted in favor of copyright holders. Rep. Lofgren's bill would ensure consumers can copy CDs, DVDs and other digital works for personal use, just as they now do with TV shows and audio tapes. The intent of this bill is not to allow the distribution of these backups - only to include personal backup copies of your software in the fair-use envelope of protection.

This bill would also strike a massive blow against both the RIAA and MPAA, as it would make it LEGAL for purchasers of software to circumvent copy protections in that software in order to make working backup copies for personal use. This would not only have the effect of rendering most of today's protections worthless, but would prevent the RIAA and MPAA from pursuing legal action against legal users of software. Also affected would be organizations such as the BSA. Their daily filings of new action against users for DMCA violations would dry up overnight, as it would become nearly impossible to prove that the user wasn't using their "backup" as they "lost" the original.

Discuss this in the forums, or read more about it by clicking <a target="blank" href="http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/4193841.htm">here</a>.

<i>Source: SiliconValley.Com</i>

Oct 7, 2002, 07:04 AM	#1
Shaith HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 916 Rep Power: 0	Two New Bills Aim To Give Consumers Their Rights Back On Software Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, plans to introduce the ``Digital Choice and Freedom Act,'' Silicon Valley's response to a host of Hollywood-backed bills tilted in favor of copyright holders. Rep. Lofgren's bill would ensure consumers can copy CDs, DVDs and other digital works for personal use, just as they now do with TV shows and audio tapes. The intent of this bill is not to allow the distribution of these backups - only to include personal backup copies of your software in the fair-use envelope of protection. This bill would also strike a massive blow against both the RIAA and MPAA, as it would make it LEGAL for purchasers of software to circumvent copy protections in that software in order to make working backup copies for personal use. This would not only have the effect of rendering most of today's protections worthless, but would prevent the RIAA and MPAA from pursuing legal action against legal users of software. Also affected would be organizations such as the BSA. Their daily filings of new action against users for DMCA violations would dry up overnight, as it would become nearly impossible to prove that the user wasn't using their "backup" as they "lost" the original. Discuss this in the forums, or read more about it by clicking <a target="blank" href="http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/4193841.htm">here</a>. <i>Source: SiliconValley.Com</i>