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

[Geoffrey]

Of interest...

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: EFF: Call On Congress to Oppose the Induce Act Tomorrow
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 14:57:09 -0700
From: Ren Bucholz <activist at eff.org>
Reply-To: <activist at eff.org>
To: Geoffrey Myers <esoteric at 3times25.net>

Dear Geoffrey,

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

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-- 
Until later, Geoffrey       Registered Linux User #108567
                             AT&T Certified UNIX System Programmer - 1995