(US) Congressional Leaders Back Independent Copyright Office

[AnemicOak]

Congressional Leaders Back Independent Copyright Office

In a long-awaited first move toward U.S. copyright reform, the House Judiciary Committee this week released a policy proposal that backed the creation of an autonomous Copyright Office, with control over its own budget and technology needs. Under the proposal, the Register of Copyrights would become a separate, term-limited post (10 years), subject to "advise and consent" rules. Currently, the Copyright Office resides in the Library of Congress, and the Librarian of Congress has sole discretion to hire or fire the register.

The proposal is the first to be made by the committee after a lengthy, recently-concluded review of the nation’s copyright laws. In addition to backing independence for the Copyright Office, the committee also proposed to expand the Copyright Office bureaucracy with new positions, including Chief Economist, Chief Technologist, and a Deputy Register. And the committee also proposed to establish a "small claims" tribunal within the Copyright Office.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...ht-office.html


If mods feel this should be in the P&R forum please feel free to move, I wasn't sure.

[pwalker8]

Hum, from the tone of the article, it seems like a way on putting a thumb on the scales on the side of the copyright holders rather than the consumers. While I agree that copyright needs to be reformed, I suspect my idea of reform is rather different than their idea of reform.

[Ravensknight]

Yep, because MORE bureaucracy has been such a great thing to date here in the U.S.

[bgalbrecht]

I'm really looking forward to this, because it's clear we need to get rid of all of those abuses of copyright, like so-called fair use, format and time shifting of all the creative materials that we've really only licensed and not purchased, unlocking our cell phones and stuff like that. And it's time to treat copyright like any other personal property, and not have it expire, ever.

[drjenkins]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

And it's time to treat copyright like any other personal property...

Except, of course, no one should be allowed to resell any copyrighted material regardless of media. Only the copyright holder should be allowed to sell or resell copyrighted material. It's also time we put libraries on notice for the massive piracy they undertake.

[harriska2]

Yeah, and that stupid constitution that says that copyright should be limited. I think we should just get rid of the constitution. It's stupid anyways.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyri..._United_States

[Rbneader]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

I'm really looking forward to this, because it's clear we need to get rid of all of those abuses of copyright, like so-called fair use, format and time shifting of all the creative materials that we've really only licensed and not purchased, unlocking our cell phones and stuff like that. And it's time to treat copyright like any other personal property, and not have it expire, ever.

I can't properly reply to this without running afoul of the politics ban, but yes, this is very much the point of view of incoming political leaders and the people who bought them.

[bgalbrecht]

Originally Posted by Rbneader

I can't properly reply to this without running afoul of the politics ban, but yes, this is very much the point of view of incoming political leaders and the people who bought them.

I think it's safe to say that both parties are mostly on the side of the content providers. For example, the TPP and other treaties have been trying to force every country to have their copyight term be at least life+70, even though the Berne Convention only says life+50.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

I think it's safe to say that both parties are mostly on the side of the content providers. For example, the TPP and other treaties have been trying to force every country to have their copyight term be at least life+70, even though the Berne Convention only says life+50.

I doubt it's a party thing so much as content providers getting their hooks into politicians and bureaucrats in both parties. I doubt there is much lobbying from the other side of the equation, so the politicians see very little downside to accepting the campaign contributes.

[Rbneader]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

I think it's safe to say that both parties are mostly on the side of the content providers. For example, the TPP and other treaties have been trying to force every country to have their copyight term be at least life+70, even though the Berne Convention only says life+50.

I didn't say anything about parties. You're right that political parties in the US share positions on copyright law, which is why I didn't bring them up.

Incoming US political leaders have expressed very extreme opinions on copyright and fair use. That's not a question of parties, but is very relevant for ebooks, copyright, and the subject of this thread.

[AnemicOak]

AAP Letter to President Elect Donald Trump