MPAA and RIAA vs CEA and EFF
Anti-Piracy Bill Creates Split In Technology Community
by Sarah Lai Stirland.
National Journal’s Technology Daily, June 25, 2004, PM Edition. [subscription required]
Battle lines are drawn again and this useful, short story from National Journal gives a good overview of the players. On the one hand are the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and other entertainment industry organizations. On the other are Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Public Knowledge, and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
At issue is legislation that “says anyone who intentionally induces others to infringe copyrights can be held liable.” The bill is the
“Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act of 2004″ (S.2560).
In related news, “The U.S. Senate has passed a bill allowing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in addition to copyright holders, to file civil lawsuits against alleged copyright pirates.” The “The Protecting Intellectual Rights Against Theft and Expropriation (PIRATE) Act of 2004″ sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy and Orrin Hatch. See
U.S. Senate approves antipiracy bill
By Grant Gross, IDG News Service. InfoWorld, June 25, 2004.