HRRC Praises Lofgren On Introduction Of ""Digital Choice And Freedom Act""

4-Oct-02

The Home Recording Rights Coalition (HRRC) praised Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-California) for introducing legislation aimed at restoring balance to both the copyright law and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA). HRRC Chairman Gary Shapiro said:""Rep. Lofgren is to be commended for approaching home technological issues from the consumer's point of view. Too many involved in this discussion see issues only from the standpoint of the content owner. Such a narrow focus is in the long-term interest of neither the content community nor the American consumer.""The legislation would address longstanding issues as to use of products, subject to ""technological protection measures,"" once they are in the hands of consumers. These issues have arisen in ""shrinkwrap"" licenses; under the copyright law's ""first sale"" doctrine; and under the DMCA's ""anti-circumvention"" provision. Shapiro noted that Rep. Lofgren has identified several issues of importance not only to home consumers, but also to educators and researchers. He said, ""HRRC looks forward to working with other concerned groups toward a full congressional discussion, from the user viewpoint, of the issues raised by this proposal.""Shapiro noted that Rep. Lofgren was among those Members of Congress who had participated in committee debates over the DMCA and had expressed concerns at the time. It is fitting, he said, that after four years of experience, the assumptions made in that debate, and the legislation itself, be reassessed. Further information on this and related issues can be found on the HRRC Web site, www.hrrc.org.

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