Tag: Copyright

ACTION ALERT: Thank You For Saying 'No' to PRO-IP

Alex Curtis — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:31:30 -0400

This past weekend, the House and Senate approved an amended version of the Intellectual Property (IP) enforcement bill, now called the PRO-IP bill. As you’ll recall, we at Public Knowledge have voiced our opposition to this bill numerous times in the past and have even called upon you to make your voice heard. We may not have been able to stop the PRO-IP bill from passing but with the help of our friends we were able to shore up the support of 41 Representatives who voted “no” on the bill. Now, it’s time to thank those brave 41 Representatives, for standing up to the entertainment industry in an election year and fighting the good fight.

With the help of your calls, the bill was amended and was stripped of some of the most troubling provisions seen in previous versions, including one that would grant the Attorney General the power to bring civil lawsuits against alleged infringers on behalf of copyright holders. However, PRO-IP still increases forfeiture penalties for copyright infringement and media bootlegging, meaning that any number of multipurpose devices—even those not owned by the infringer and those not directly tied to the offense—could get caught up in the net of forfeiture penalties.

Congress may have passed PRO-IP thanks to overwhelming support from the movie and music industries but that doesn’t mean that everyone supports the entertainment industry’s agenda. 41 Congressmen and Congresswomen chose to stand apart from the pack on Sunday, voting against PRO-IP despite Hollywood’s intense lobbying efforts. Please join us in thanking these 41 Representatives for standing strong on the issue of Intellectual Property enforcement and for working to protect the rights of users.

We want to make sure each of the 41 knows our appreciation. Please follow these quick steps to express your thanks:

Check to see if your member is one of the 41. If so, make a call or send a fax via our action center. If you call, you could simply say: “Thank you for opposing S. 3325, the PRO-IP bill and standing up to Hollywood.”
Use Facebook? 16 of these 41 members do too!. Even if they’re not your member, click “Become a Supporter” on their Facebook page or add them as a friend, then leave a message on their wall thanking them for opposing the PRO-IP bill. Here’s a sample message: “Thank you for opposing S. 3325, the PRO-IP bill and standing up to Hollywood.”
Use Twitter? Two of these 41 members do too! Even if they’re not your member, leave them a tweet thanking them for opposing the PRO-IP bill using this sample message: “Thank you for opposing S. 3325, the #PRO-IP bill and standing up to Hollywood”

Stacking Penalties Upon Penalties (PRO-IP Passes Senate)

Sherwin Siy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:06:04 -0400

Today, the Senate approved an amended version of its version of IP enforcement bill (now named the PRO-IP bill to parallel the enforcement bill in the House). PK’s press release is here.

As amended, the bill retained its increased forfeiture penalties for copyright infringement and media bootlegging, meaning that any number of multipurpose devices—even those not owned by the infringer—could get caught up in the net of forfeiture penalties.

Public Knowledge Statement on Senate Passage of Intellectual Property Legislation

Art Brodsky — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:08:15 -0400

For Immediate Release: September 26, 2008

Background: The Senate today passed S. 3325, the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act of 2008. The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

“It is unfortunate that the Senate felt it necessary to pass this legislation. The bill only adds more imbalance to a copyright law that favors large media companies.

Public Knowledge Welcomes New Front Group As Attack On Internet

Art Brodsky — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:28:06 -0400

For Immediate Release: September 24, 2008

The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

“This latest in a string of big-money front groups is nothing more than the most concentrated attack on the free and open Internet we have seen to date. Combining the power and influence of AT&T and the entertainment industry means only that both are going to wage an all-out war for the right to filter every bit of data anyone sends across the Internet. We are pleased to see that Verizon continues to resist the incessant and misguided pressure from the entertainment industry.

News Flash: Departments of Justice and Commerce Send Letter Opposing Senate IP Enforcement Bill

Gigi Sohn — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:29:52 -0400

Late yesterday, the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce sent a letter to Senators Leahy and Specter opposing S. 3325, the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act of 2008. Specifically, the letter says that the agencies are “deeply concerned” that

the proposed legislation will undermine existing intellectual property enforcement efforts by diminishing the effective use of limited criminal enforcement resources and creating unnecessary bureaucracy. It will also improperly micro-manage the internal organization of the Executive Branch.

The letter targets Titles I and IV of the bill as most offensive. Title I, as we have written about numerous times, would give the Justice Department authority to pursue civil lawsuits. Plain and simple, the Justice Department does not want to sped its valuable resources (or your tax dollars) to bring such suits.

Public Knowledge Praises Administration Opposition To Intellectual Property Legislation

Art Brodsky — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:14:45 -0400

For Immediate Release: September 24, 2008

Background: The Justice and Commerce Departments yesterday sent a letter to the Senate opposing key parts of pending intellectual property legislation (S. 3325). The letter is here:
http://www.publicknowledge.org/pdf/doj-letter-20080923.pdf

The following is the statement of Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

“We are pleased that the Justice and Commerce departments agree with us that it would be a mistake to give the Justice Department the authority to pursue civil suits in copyright cases. As the departments said in the letter, and as Public Knowledge has said repeatedly, the private sector has all the resources necessary to pursue cases that companies want to pursue. The government should not be turned into the law firm for wealthy copyright holders.

“We hope that the sponsors of the bill will take these views seriously and will forgo action on the legislation for the foreseeable future.”

Seminar: What's the Future for Musicians?

Webmaster — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:37:51 -0400

September 22, 2008 - 11:30am US/Central to
September 22, 2008 - 8:30pm US/Central

Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL

The Future of Music Coalition and the Old Town School of Folk Music are sponsoring the seminar “What’s the Future for Musicians?” for Chicago’s musicians, composers, performers, songwriters and record labels. Registration is $25.

For schedule and registration information please visit: http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/chicago08/

Public Interest Groups Sue Government To Force Open Secret Trade Deal

Art Brodsky — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:34:27 -0400

For Immediate Release: September 18, 2008

Contact:

Gwen Hinze
International Policy Director
Electronic Frontier Foundation
415-436-9333 x110
gwen@eff.org

Art Brodsky
Public Knowledge
202-518-0020 (o) 301-908-7715 (c)
abrodsky@publicknowledge.org

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Public Knowledge have filed suit against the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), demanding information about a secret intellectual property enforcement treaty that the government has put on a fast track to completion. (A copy of the suit is available here.)

The United States, Canada, the European Community, Switzerland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Jordan, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates are currently negotiating the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).

PK, EFF, Sue for ACTA Documents

Sherwin Siy — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:24:33 -0400

Several weeks ago, PK and EFF asked the US Trade Representative to turn over documents on ACTA, the international agreement on counterfeiting that still hasn’t been made public yet. After some back-and-forth, and even after narrowing the scope of the request, we still have yet to receive any documents from USTR, as required under the Freedom of Information Act.

So yesterday, the two groups filed suit against the USTR to compel them to process the request and turn over the documents.

ACTION ALERT: Tell the Senate to Hold Up the IP Enforcement Bill

Alex Curtis — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:53:46 -0400

Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee gave the green light to S. 3325, the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Act of 2008. We need you to show them the red light, NOW! This intellectual property enforcement bill lets the DOJ enforce civil copyright claims and lets the government do the MPAA and RIAA’s intellectual property rights enforcement work for them—at tax payers’ expense.

CLICK HERE TO CALL THESE SENATORS NOW

(We’re using the awesome Cause Caller for this alert, so be ready to speak to a number of different Senate offices, rapid-fire style! We’ve picked Senators who may be like-minded in opposing this bill. Of course, feel free to call your own Senators.)

CLICK HERE TO SEND A FAX TO YOUR SENATORS