A copyright reform bill circulated by Rep. Smith (R- Tex.) and headed for markup by the House Judiciary Committee today (Wed.) is being met with protest from digital rights activists, consumer electronics interests, satellite radio providers and even RIAA. The bill’s broad aim -- to streamline copyright laws governing digital downloads, webcasts and subscription services - is laudable, groups said. But pieces of the draft said to threaten digital broadcasting aren’t being received well, including parts that could affect the major record labels’ $300 billion lawsuit against XM.
A copyright reform bill circulated by Rep. Smith (R-Tex.) and headed for markup by the House Judiciary Committee today (Wed.) is being met with protest from digital rights activists, consumer electronics interests, satellite radio providers and even RIAA. The bill’s broad aim -- to streamline copyright laws governing digital downloads, webcasts and subscription services - is laudable, groups said. But pieces of the draft said to threaten digital broadcasting aren’t being received well, including parts that could affect the major record labels’ $300 billion lawsuit against XM.
A legislative remedy for EchoStar’s distant network troubles proposed by Sen. Stevens (R-Alaska) as an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act was rejected Thurs., as the bill sailed through the Senate 98-0. Democrats launched the opposition that blocked the move, Hill sources said. Stevens’ amendment would have codified the settlement EchoStar recently reached with all broadcasters still litigating against it, except Fox (CD Aug 29 p1). The EchoStar-Fox standoff -- the latest twist in an 8-year-old legal proceeding -- now has the attention of several lawmakers, including Sens. Allard (R-Colo.) and Salazar (D- Colo.) from EchoStar’s home state.
Council Tree, Bethel Native Corp. and Minority Media & Telecom Council want the 3rd U.S. Appeals Court, Philadelphia, to toss out the AWS auction, they said in a pleading. Rules approved pre-auction effectively killed participation by them and other designated entities, they said. Among provisionally winning bids, only 4% have been by DEs’, they told the court.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Cal. Supreme Court gave no indication it would allow liability for posting others’ material online, in oral argument here in Barrett v. Rosenthal. In a case of great interest to bloggers, ISPs and others, comments late Tues. by 4 of the 7 justices suggested they were ready to overturn a state court of appeals ruling allowing -- despite Sec. 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act (CDA) -- a defamation lawsuit against the individual publisher of a website that posted an e-mail accusing a doctor of a crime. Under the court’s rules, the justices have 90 days to issue their decision.
A diverse array of telcos and public interest groups savaged the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) broadcast treaty in a statement Tues. Industry and activists earlier had separately pressed Congress to review the treaty negotiations, warning that new wholesale intellectual property rights (IPR) were being invented for broadcasters, “cablecasters” and possibly webcasters (CD June 12 p12). The latest letter, given to the Copyright Office (CO) and Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), comes ahead of a WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright & Related Rights meeting next week to discuss the treaty. CO and PTO also met with critics Tues.
A diverse array of telcos and public interest groups savaged the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) broadcast treaty in a statement Tues. Industry and activists earlier had separately pressed Congress to review the treaty negotiations, warning that new wholesale intellectual property rights (IPR) were being invented for broadcasters, “cablecasters” and possibly webcasters (WID June 12 p7). The latest letter, given to the Copyright Office (CO) and Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), comes ahead of a WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright & Related Rights meeting next week to discuss the treaty. CO and PTO also met with critics Tues.
The lowest unit charge (LUC) period for political ads begins Sept. 8, 60 days before the general election. But ad and research executives told us candidates are shunning the cheapest spots to buy costly ad inventory. “Lowest unit rate really doesn’t matter anymore”, Evan Tracey, COO-TNS Media Intelligence’s Campaign Media Analysis Group, said: “It was a good idea once upon a time. Now the market has figured out how to deal with this.”
State regulators wanting to participate in talks on the Missoula plan for reforming FCC intercarrier compensation rules are being asked to agree beforehand never to criticize the process followed to develop the plan and won’t speak ill of the plan as long as they're in discussions. Me. regulator Kurt Adams -- not companies behind Missoula -- proposed the rules. Vt. has agreed to abide by the rules.
Last week’s privacy gaffe by Verizon Wireless raises policy questions on the Hill and elsewhere, several players told Washington Internet Daily. Bills on state preemption and privacy relate to events like the wireless carrier’s accidental distribution of customer data, they said.