CEA Praises Oregon For Putting Freeze On MPAA-Backed Model Communications Security Bill

More And More States Recognizing Harmful Impact Of ""Theft Of Service"" Legislation

29-May-03

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) praised Oregon Senator Charles Starr (R-Hillsboro) for withdrawing his sponsorship and support of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)-backed bill, S.B. 655. Deceptively promoted by the MPAA as legislation solely designed to prevent communications piracy, the overly broad bill would have extended the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to criminalize lawful products and consumer conduct. ""State Senator Charles Starr is to be commended for standing up for Oregon consumers,"" said CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro. ""What was sold to him and Oregon lawmakers by the MPAA as a mere communications piracy law actually was a ridiculously broad and ambiguous bill that threatened Oregonians' lawful use of consumer electronics products in their own homes. Senator Starr realized the truth about the MPAA bill and withdrew his support. Now, instead of being rushed through the legislature, S.B. 655 will be considered in the full light of day by an after-session study commission."" Oregon is the latest state to put a halt to MPAA-backed ""theft of service"" legislation, which also is being considered in other states, including Texas and Florida. In response to objections from CEA, retailers and consumer advocacy groups, Colorado Governor Owens vetoed a similar bill last week and Tennessee followed suit the next day by putting an indefinite hold on the MPAA bill. ""There is a growing pattern here,"" Shapiro continued. ""Lawmakers across the country are quickly discovering that these MPAA-backed bills are not really about preventing cable or Internet service theft. Instead, they are about enabling unprecedented control over lawful consumer conduct by the threat of massive civil and criminal penalties. ""CEA stands firmly against piracy and theft of service. However, the MPAA approach would criminalize legitimate activities, such as attaching a VCR or TiVo-like device to a home network without the express permission of the service provider. These bills are harmful to consumers, harmful to technology, and harmful to the public interest. That is why they are being rejected across the country as soon as lawmakers discover the truth about their impact. ""CEA continues to urge state legislators around the nation to follow the lead of Colorado, Tennessee, and now Oregon in rejecting this ill-considered legislation."" For more information about the CEA, visit www.ce.org.

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