IMPORTANT: Protect YOUR rights!

[Streyeder 0]

A VERY important bill is about to get a Congressional Hearing. This bill, HR 107, is better known as the DMCRA. It's a slap in the face of the DMCA, RIAA, MPAA, etc.

Congressional Legislation

To amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to provide that the advertising or sale of a mislabeled copy-protected music disc is an unfair method of competition and an unfair and deceptive act or practice, and for other purposes.

Bill # H.R.107

Original Sponsor:

Rick Boucher (D-VA 9th)

Cosponsor Total: 16

(last sponsor added 05/05/2004)

  9 Democrats

  7 Republicans

About This Legislation:

1/7/2003--Introduced.

Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit: (1) introduction into commerce of prerecorded digital music disc products that are mislabeled, or falsely, or deceptively advertised or invoiced; and (2) removal or mutilation of any label required by either this Act or any rules or regulations prescribed by the Federal Trade Commission before the time a prerecorded digital music disc product is sold and delivered to the ultimate consumer.

States that such transactions constitute either an unfair method of competition, or an unfair and deceptive act or practice in commerce.

Authorizes the Commission to develop rules and regulations governing such transactions.

Amends Federal copyright law to exempt from its prohibitions against circumvention of copyright protection systems any persons acting solely in furtherance of scientific research into technological protection measures.

Declares it is not a violation of copyright law, but fair use, to: (1) circumvent a technological measure in connection with access to, or the use of, a work if such circumvention does not result in an infringement of the copyright in the work; or (2) manufacture, distribute, or make noninfringing use of a hardware or software product capable of enabling significant noninfringing use of a copyrighted work.

http://www.protectfairuse.org/

If you want to protect your fair use of digital media (CDs, DVDs, HDTV, etc) as you currently have with tapes and VHS then you need to write your representatives to let them know you want your rights back. Not only does this bill give back fair use, it also forces corporations to label media that is copy-protected AND allows distribution of circumvention methods. (I.E. You can distribute a DVD copying program or software that allows you to play it on Linux.)

Write your Congressman HERE!

I urge you all to do what you can; it's never easy to fight Hollywood.