[olug] EFF: Call On Congress to Oppose the Induce Act Tomorrow

[Christopher Cashell]

I thought this would be of interest to OLUGers again.  The proponents
of the INDUCE Act are trying to get it introduced to the senate floor,
and this is a request for people to call members of the Judiciary
Committee, to show them that we think this is a horrible idea, and
should be stopped immediately.

I hope no one minds that this is off-topic.

--
Christopher

At Tue, 28 Sep 04, Unidentified Flying Banana Ren Bucholz, said:
> Dear Christopher,
> 
> Earlier this month, thousands of EFF supporters called on
> Congress to throw out the Induce Act, a bill that threatens
> the future of innovation in America. We need your help
> again. Last time, we targeted the committee that is
> reviewing the bill. Tomorrow, we want to be sure that
> *every* Senator hears from constituents who oppose the
> Induce Act.  Sign up here to add your voice:
> 
>  http://www.savebetamax.org/eff
> 
> The Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act (S.2560) would
> extend copyright liability to companies that "induce"
> copyright infringement. This profound change in the law
> would make it nearly impossible for a company to bring
> innovative new technologies to the market.  Under the threat
> of entertainment industry lawsuits based on the Induce Act,
> technology companies would be forced to first ask permission
> from Hollywood and the record labels.  If the entertainment
> industry had this kind of veto power in the past, it's
> likely that technologies like the VCR, iPod, and CD burners
> would never have seen the light of day.  That's why we need
> you to speak out against the Induce Act:
> 
>  http://www.savebetamax.org/eff 
> 
> Our friends at Downhill Battle are coordinating the calls at
> SaveBetamax.org, a site that gives you the information you
> need to make a quick, easy call to Congress.
> SaveBetamax.org also provides background on why the Induce
> Act is so misguided, including an overview of the Supreme
> Court's decision in the famous Sony Betamax case, which
> established that the maker of a technology cannot be held
> liable for copyright violations by users as long as the
> technology has substantial non-infringing uses. This
> "Betamax doctrine" spurred two decades of unprecedented
> technological innovation - and enormous profits for the very
> companies that ironically want to reverse it with the Induce
> Act.
> 
> Make sure Congress knows you oppose the Induce Act by
> signing up today. Thanks for taking action!
> 
>  http://www.savebetamax.org/eff
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Ren Bucholz
> EFF Activism Coordinator
>  http://www.eff.org
> 
> To remove yourself from this mailing, please go to http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M6552777472169209000055&iEvent=57079
> 
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-- 
| Christopher
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| Here I stand.  I can do no other.              |
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