I'm really concerned about this. With the California video game law that happened earlier this year, it was pretty clear who would win: free speech. But with this bill, its ambiguous writing, and the corporations that would love to have this law in effect, the outcome isn't so obvious. Fair Use would be a thing of the past, and the whole "Napster sues children" type of legal action might start up again. So, for a discussion point, what are your thoughts? Have you contacted your Congressman? I really suggest you do so (I'll explain how down below) because if we don't speak up, this bill could go by unopposed and severely cripple the internet.
How To Contact Your Congressman:
1) Click on this link: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
2) Follow the instructions to determine your Congressman
3) Enter the information on the form, and speak your mind! If you're lazy or pressed for time, copy and paste this, but enter in your own name and your Congressman's name:
Dear [name],
My name is [name] and I'm concerned about the S.968 Bill. If you are not familiar with the bill, allow me to bring you up to speed. The S.968 Bill is a law that would make it a felony to stream copyrighted content over the Web. Furthermore, this bill defines illegal streaming as "streaming that consists of 10 or more public performances by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copyrighted works and has a total economic value, either to the copyright holder or the infringer, of at least $2,500." While I agree that creators should have their work protected from thieves and unscrupulous people, this bill could potentially make many videos on Youtube, and other legitimate websites, illegal. For example, if you had a daughter who posted a Youtube video of herself singing a song from her favorite music group, the recording company who owns could legally see that as a felony under this bill. Another example would be people who like to share their favorite movie clips or who play a song over a video of their football game. The examples are endless, and it's quite frightening how ambiguously the bill is worded. The Fair Use Act would become a thing of the past, and free speech may not be far behind it. So [name], I urge you to stand up for our basic rights and oppose this bill. I hope you take what I wrote into consideration, and that you will make the right choice. Thank you for your time.
1) Click on this link: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
2) Follow the instructions to determine your Congressman
3) Enter the information on the form, and speak your mind! If you're lazy or pressed for time, copy and paste this, but enter in your own name and your Congressman's name:
Dear [name],
My name is [name] and I'm concerned about the S.968 Bill. If you are not familiar with the bill, allow me to bring you up to speed. The S.968 Bill is a law that would make it a felony to stream copyrighted content over the Web. Furthermore, this bill defines illegal streaming as "streaming that consists of 10 or more public performances by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copyrighted works and has a total economic value, either to the copyright holder or the infringer, of at least $2,500." While I agree that creators should have their work protected from thieves and unscrupulous people, this bill could potentially make many videos on Youtube, and other legitimate websites, illegal. For example, if you had a daughter who posted a Youtube video of herself singing a song from her favorite music group, the recording company who owns could legally see that as a felony under this bill. Another example would be people who like to share their favorite movie clips or who play a song over a video of their football game. The examples are endless, and it's quite frightening how ambiguously the bill is worded. The Fair Use Act would become a thing of the past, and free speech may not be far behind it. So [name], I urge you to stand up for our basic rights and oppose this bill. I hope you take what I wrote into consideration, and that you will make the right choice. Thank you for your time.
