WIRED: Restrictive Copyright Rules Will Hamper Creativity & Innovation. In The Copyright Barons Are Coming. Now’s The Time To Stop Them, WIRED’s Josh Tabish pushes back against the Copyright Alliance’s recent letter to Trump. “[T]he argument that more restrictive copyright rules are necessary to protect the industry and artists does not stand up to scrutiny,” he wrote, before explaining how innovations like Netflix and Spotify have increased entertainment industry revenues and tamped down on piracy. Tabish compares the Copyright Alliance’s call for more restrictive copyright to “building digital walls online. These rules would make it harder for everyday internet users to share content online, and burden popular ad-supported platforms with additional expenses and liabilities.”
Re:Create Raises Concerns With Goodlatte-Conyers Copyright Office Proposal. The Re:Create Coalition submitted comments in response to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Ranking Member John Conyers’ Copyright Office policy proposal. Among highlighted excerpts from the filing, the Re:Create Coalition urged that “giving more autonomy to the Copyright Office is not the right solution to the Office’s problems…In fact, it may create more problems and delays as it is forced to organize under a new order.” Additionally, the Coalition stated its strong opposition to the creation of a small claims court at the Copyright Office.
ICYMI: Reactions To The Goodlatte-Conyers Copyright Proposal. The Re:Create Coalition and other organizations filed comments in response to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Ranking Member John Conyers’ Copyright Office policy proposal, which was unveiled in December. While organizations were united in their belief that technology upgrades at the Copyright Office are long overdue, many organizations – including CCIA, Consumer Technology Association, R Street and FreedomWorks, Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Library Copyright Alliance – expressed opposition to endowing the Office with autonomy or a small claims court.
Technology A Key Part Of Dr. Carla Hayden’s Goals For Library Of Congress. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution provided readers to Meet Carla Hayden, the first female librarian of Congress in a recent profile, revealing her plans to digitize much of the Library’s collection, launch traveling exhibits, create an app, and increase its presence on social media. “My No. 1 goal is that by the end of my tenure appointment people in this country will know about the Library of Congress and feel that it’s their library,” Dr. Hayden said.
Are Copyright Laws Equipped For The Erosion Of Ownership In The Digital Age? In recent years, many consumers have switched from purchasing physical copies of media to downloading the digital equivalents, leaving many to wonder if current copyright law is equipped to handle the shift towards digital ownership. To discuss the topic, R Street convened a panel of academics, policy experts and lawyers titled, The Erosion of Ownership in the Digital Age. The panel discussed how this trend will impact copyright law and how it is reshaping traditional institutions and ownership rights. Click here to watch the full discussion.
Stop The Internet Censorship Machine. A new campaign hosted by OpenMedia is alerting the public that “Dangerous new censorship proposals are on their way” and urges supporters to sign onto their letter to the U.S. Copyright Office “to defend freedom of expression and oppose controversial Notice and Staydown regulations.” The letter states that Notice and Staydown regulations, “would require online platforms to filter content and censor it, using automated systems to spy on users and detect content flagged as potential copyright infringement. These Censorship Machines operate based on presumption of guilt and will stop legitimate speech.” It also emphasizes the importance promoting innovation, “Many exceptions to copyright are vital for innovation, promoting small business and a stronger economy.”