--------------EF3179FA583D77D96FA9FE7F
Content-Type: message/rfc822
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Disposition: inline
Return-Path: <info-gnu-request@gnu.org>
Received: from xenon.gem.net (xenon.gem.net [207.151.83.10])
by vadim.gem.net (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id FAA01851
for <vadim@vadim.gem.net>; Tue, 9 Jun 1998 05:31:38 -0700
Resent-From: info-gnu-request@gnu.org
Received: from ns.econ.msu.su (root@ns.econ.msu.su [158.250.35.253])
by xenon.gem.net (8.8.6/8.8.6) with ESMTP id FAA03441
for <vadim@vadim.gem.net>; Tue, 9 Jun 1998 05:29:12 -0700 (PDT)
Received: from mescaline.gnu.org (we-refuse-to-spy-on-our-users@mescaline.gnu.org [158.121.106.21])
by ns.econ.msu.su (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id QAA12468
for <vadim@ns.econ.msu.su>; Tue, 9 Jun 1998 16:24:46 +0400
Received: by mescaline.gnu.org (8.8.5/8.6.12GNU) id GAA09220; Tue, 9 Jun 1998 06:58:04 -0400
Received: from delysid.gnu.org by mescaline.gnu.org (8.8.5/8.6.12GNU) with ESMTP id WAA14415 for <info-gnu-non-usenet@mail.gnu.org>; Mon, 8 Jun 1998 22:23:21 -0400
Received: (gnu@localhost) by delysid.gnu.org (8.8.5/8.6.12GNU) id WAA20599 for info-gnu-non-usenet@mail.gnu.org; Mon, 8 Jun 1998 22:22:11 -0400
Resent-Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 22:22:11 -0400
Resent-Message-Id: <199806090222.WAA20599@delysid.gnu.org>
Message-Id: <gnusenet199806090124.TAA01847@wijiji.santafe.edu>
From: Richard Stallman <gnu@gnu.org>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 15:18:29 -0600
To: info-gnu@gnu.org, gnu-misc-discuss@gnu.org
Subject: Action alert on dangerous copyright bill
Reply-To: gnu-misc-discuss@gnu.org
X-Mailing-List: <info-gnu@gnu.org> archive/latest/26
X-Loop: info-gnu@gnu.org
Precedence: list
Resent-Sender: info-gnu-request@gnu.org
[The Free Software Foundation is forwarding this alert, hoping that
people will contact their representatives *as soon as possible* to
oppose a very dangerous bill to extend copyright powers to an
unprecedented extent.
According to Peter Jaszi of the Digital Future Coalition
(www.dfc.org), this is our last chance to alter this bill before
passage--but it is a real chance, because the Commerce committee is
taking a fresh look at the subject and does not share the
pro-publisher bias of the Intellectual Property committee.
Please forward this alert as widely as possible to other newsgroups
and mailing lists where it is appropriate.]
June 3, 1998
IMMEDIATE ACTION ALERT
Consumer Project on Technology (http://www.cptech.org)
Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org)
Electronic Privacy Information Center (http://www.epic.org)
DIGITAL COPYRIGHT BILL THREATENS ONLINE PRIVACY AND SECURITY
CONTACT KEY REPRESENTATIVES ON THE HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
SUMMARY:
* Latest News:
House "WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act" (H.R. 2281)
would over-regulate emerging technologies, eliminate privacy
protections, outlaw reverse engineering and encryption security
measures, and weaken fair use privileges.
* What You Can Do Now:
Follow the directions below and call members of House Commerce
Committee. Ask them to oppose any bill that seeks to regulate
technology itself, rather than the behavior that constitutes
a misuse of the technology. Explain that a better alternative
is H.R. 3048.
For More Information, see the Digital Future Coalition
http://www.dfc.org
_________________________________________________________________
THE LATEST NEWS
On Friday June 5, the House Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications,
Trade, and Consumer Protection will hold a hearing on H.R. 2281, the "WIPO
Copyright Treaties Implementation Act." The House Judiciary Committee has
already approved this bill that will dramatically alter the time honored
balance between content owners and the user community. The legislation will
also seriously erode the leadership that the United States currently enjoys
in research and development of encryption algorithms, cryptographic products,
and computer security technology. It also seriously threatens privacy online.
Three sections of the bill are extremely threatening to privacy, free speech,
and computer security:
Section 1201 makes the use, manufacture or sale of ANY technology that
can be used to circumvent copyright protections illegal. A host of
vital technologies, equipment and processes "can" be, but are not intended,
for such abuse, and Congress should not outlaw them, any more
than they may outlaw the making or sale of crowbars or baseball bats
because they "can" be used for vandalism. This will:
* criminalize the manufacture, import, or use of tools necessary to
perform research in cryptography. Under HR 2281, the manufacture of
software tools that test the viability of a proposed encryption
algorithm would be prohibited.
* impede the ability of system operators to find and correct weaknesses
in their systems. System operators have important, legitimate reasons
to attempt to circumvent such access control technologies to confirm
the security of the password file or other vulnerable elements of
the system. They must be able to use or create software that
circumvents access control technologies to determine the robustness
of the security system.
* prevent computer users from protecting their privacy online by
removing cookies from their computer. Additionally, if cookies are
used as a copyright protection system it would be unlawful to
manufacture a device that removes the cookie from the system.
Section 1202: Allows for the collection of personally identifiable information
as part of the Copyright Management System. This section will:
* allow content owners to collect personally- identifiable information
about users who access their copyrighted works. This will eliminate
anonymous reading and allow content owners to track not only which
online magazines you buy but also which articles you read and which
pictures you look at.
Section 201: Encourages system operators to violate the privacy and
protected speech rights of their users. This section will:
* Exempt service providers from liability if they disable access
to or remove material claimed to be infringing, regardless of
whether the material or activity is ultimately determined to
be infringing. This encourages them to remove potentially
protected speech without any real proof of infringement. It also
allows OSPs to violate users privacy by sifting through customers'
electronic files, documents and e-mail looking for a potential
infringements.
**ALTERNATIVE: SUPPORT H.R. 3048**
A much better WIPO treaty implementation bill, which punishes the *act* of
unlawful infringement and maintains privacy protections, is H.R. 3048, the
"Digital Era Copyright Enhancement Act." H.R. 3048 would encourage the
development of new technologies and markets for copyrighted works in
digital form, and give intellectual property holders the strong tools they
need to go
after infringing conduct while protecting privacy, security, and anonymity.
_________________________________________________________________
IMMEDIATE ACTION TO TAKE
Privacy, encryption, fair use, and security supporters, *especially i.e.,
supporters from states represented on the House Commerce Committee*, are
asked to IMMEDIATELY contact these key Representatives and ask them to
withhold support from H.R. 2281, and instead support the more balanced
approach of H.R. 3048. Then contact your own legislator and urge them to
do the same.
We ask you to take JUST TWO MINUTES to contact the offices of the Committee
members and your own representative and express your opposition to this
legislation! Urge the Representatives to refrain from burdening the
development of new technologies and ensure that privacy is protected in
the digital world.
If you are unsure who your legislators are or how to contact them, see
the EFF Congress Contact Factsheet at: http://www.eff.org/congress.html
Feel free to make use of the sample fax and phone "script" below.
Please at minimum contact your own Rep, and committee chairman Howard
Bliley, ranking member John Dingell, Telecommunications Subcommittee chair
William Tauzin and ranking Subcommittee member Edward Markey. If you have
time, please call/fax as many of ther members of the Committee as you can.
HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
ST PTY REPRESENTATIVE PHONE FAX
DIST
---------------------------------------- (Use 202 area code)---
SUBCOMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TRADE, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
LA 03 R W.J. "Billy" Tauzin 225-4031 225-0563
OH 04 R Michael G. Oxley 225-2676 n/a
CO 06 R Dan Schaefer 225-7882 225-3414
TX 06 R Joe Barton 225-2002 225-3052
IL 14 R J. Dennis Hastert 225-2976 225-0697
MI 06 R Fred Upton 225-3761 225-4986
FL 06 R Cliff Stearns 225-5744 225-3973
OH 05 R Paul E. Gillmor 225-6405 225-1985
WI 02 R Scott L. Klug 225-2906 225-6942
CA 47 R Christopher Cox 225-5611 225-9177
GA 09 R Nathan Deal 225-5211 225-8272
OK 01 R Steve Largent 225-2211 225-9187
WA 01 R Rick White 225-6311 225-3524
CA 27 R James Rogan 225-4176 225-5828
IL 20 R John Shimkus 225-5271 225-5880
MA 07 D Edward J. Markey 225-2836 226-0340
VA 09 D Rick Boucher 225-3861 225-0442
TN 06 D Bart Gordon 225-4231 225-6887
NY 17 D Eliot L. Engel 225-2464 225-5513
OH 14 D Thomas C. Sawyer 225-5231 225-5278
NY 07 D Thomas J. Manton 225-3965 225-1909
IL 01 D Bobby L. Rush 225-4372 226-0333
CA 14 D Anna G. Eshoo 225-8104 225-8890
PA 04 D Ron Klink 225-2565 225-2274
MD 04 D Albert R. Wynn 225-8699 225-8714
TX 29 D Gene Green 225-1688 225-9903
MO 05 D Karen McCarthy 225-4535 225-4403
HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
VA 07 R Tom Bliley (chair) 225-2815 225-0011
FL 09 R Michael Bilirakis 225-5755 225-4085
NY 27 R Bill Paxon 225-5265 225-5910
PA 08 R James C. Greenwood 225-4276 225-9511
ID 02 R Michael D. Crapo 225-5531 225-8216
NC 05 R Richard Burr 225-2071 225-2995
CA 49 R Brian P. Bilbray 225-2040 225-2948
KY 01 R Ed Whitfield 225-3115 225-3547
IA 04 R Greg Ganske 225-4426 225-3193
GA 10 R Charlie Norwood 225-4101 225-0279
OK 02 R Tom Coburn 225-2701 225-3038
NY 02 R Rick Lazio 225-3335 225-4669
WY AL R Barbara Cubin 225-2311 225-3057
MI 16 D John D. Dingell 225-4071 n/a
CA 29 D Henry A. Waxman 225-3976 225-4099
TX 04 D Ralph M. Hall 225-6673 225-3332
NY 10 D Edolphus Towns 225-5936 225-1018
NJ 06 D Frank Pallone Jr. 225-4671 225-9665
OH 13 D Sherrod Brown 225-0123 225-2256
OR 01 D Elizabeth Furse 225-0855 225-9497
FL 20 D Peter Deutsch 225-7931 225-8456
MI 01 D Bart Stupak 225-4735 225-4744
OH 06 D Ted Strickland 225-5705 225-5907
CO 01 D Diana DeGette 225-4413 225-5657
SAMPLE PHONE "SCRIPT" & SAMPLE FAX
If you would like to both call and send a fax, this extra action
would certainly help.
For best results, try to put this in your own (short!) words, and
be emotive without being hostile.
IF YOU ARE A CONSTITUENT (i.e., you live in the same district as
the Rep. you are contacting) make sure to say so. For example "I
am a constituent, and I'm calling/writing because...."
IF YOU REPRESENT A COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION, say so: "I'm Jane
Person from Personal Technologies Inc. of Austin. I'm calling on
behalf of Personal Technologies to ask the Representative to...."
Business interests carry a lot of weight with many legislators,
especially if they are in the legislator's home district.
Legislators also generally heed organizational voices over
individual ones.
PHONE "SCRIPT"
You: [ring ring]
Legislative staffer: Hello, Representative Lastname's office.
You: I'm calling to urge Representative Lastname to OPPOSE H.R. 2281, the
WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act. I am extremely
concerned about the effects on privacy. Additionally, the bill's
anti-circumvention provision is overbroad.
I urge Representative Lastname to OPPOSE H.R. 2281 and instead SUPPORT
H.R. 3048. Thank you.
Staffer: OK, thanks. [click]
It's that easy.
You can optionally ask to speak to the legislator's technology
& intellectual property staffer. You probably won't get to, but
the message may have more weight if you succeed. The staffer who
first answers the phone probably won't be the tech/i.p. staffer.
SAMPLE FAX
Relevant Congressional fax numbers are in the contact list above.
Please, if you have the time, write your own 1-3 paragraph letter
in your own words, rather than send a copy of this sample letter.
(However, sending a copy of the sample letter is far better than
taking no action!)
Dear Rep. Lastname:
I am writing to ask you to oppose H.R. 2281, the WIPO Copyright
Treaties Implementation Act. The Act would impose a variety of
civil and criminal penalties for the use, manufacture or sale of
technologies, including multi-purpose computers, home electronic
devices and software programs, that could be used to overcome
technological safeguards on copyrighted works. This bill would
impede encryption research that helps ensure secure networks, prevent
legitimate reverse engineering in the development of new software,
and effectively overrule the Supreme Court's decision in Sony Corp.
v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 464 U.S. 417 (1984), which
permitted the home taping of television broadcasts. It also could
jeopardize education and research by allowing copyright owners to
lock up public domain materials, and by frustrating the fair use
rights of information consumers.
H.R. 2281 goes much farther than is necessary under the WIPO
treaties. Instead, a more balanced and rational bill is H.R. 3048,
the Digital Era Copyright Enhancement Act, a measure providing
protection and legal remedies against the *act* of circumvention
itself when that circumvention is undertaken for an unlawful purpose.
Please oppose H.R. 2281 and support H.R. 3048. Thank you.
Sincerely,
My Name Here
My Address Here
(Address is especially important if you want your letter to be taken
as a letter from an actual constituent.)
For brief tips on writing letters to Congress, see:
http://www.vote-smart.org/contact/contact.html
The most important tip is to BE POLITE AND BRIEF. Swearing will NOT
help.
_________________________________________________________________
MORE ACTION TO TAKE
After calling/faxing members of the House Commerce Committee, please
contact your own Representatives and urge them to oppose H.R. 2281, the
WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act.
You may also wish to follow up your calls and faxes with e-mail.
HOUSE LEADERSHIP
ST PTY REPRESENTATIVE PHONE FAX
DIST
---------------------------------------- (Use 202 area code)---
GA 6 R Gingrich, Newt 225-4501 225-4656
TX 26 R Armey, Richard 225-7772 226-8100
MO 3 D Gephardt, Richard 225-2671 225-7452
TX 22 R DeLay, Tom 225-5951 225-5241
MI 10 D Bonior, David 225-2106 226-1169
OH 8 R Boehner, John 225-6205 225-0704
CA 47 R Cox, Christopher 225-5611 225-9177
CA 3 D Fazio, Vic 225-5716 225-5141
MD 5 D Hoyer, Steny 225-4131 225-4300
_________________________________________________________________
House leaders are, respectively: Speaker, Majority Leader, Minority
Leader, Maj. Whip, Min. Whip, Republican Conference Chair, Rep. Policy
Committee Chair, Democratic Caucus Chair, Dem. Steering Cmte. Chair.
[end of alert]
------- End of forwarded message -------
--------------EF3179FA583D77D96FA9FE7F--
-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu