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The Association of American Universities and five academic library groups have joined a coalition that seeks to make the digital distribution of copyrighted works easier in some circumstances. The coalition already includes consumer groups and telecommunications and electronics companies.
Calling itself the Personal Technology Freedom Coalition, the group is backing legislation that would revamp the controversial section of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act known as the anti- circumvention provision. The provision makes it illegal to bypass technologies designed to prevent computer users from making electronic copies of creative works, including movies and songs.
Another part of the legislation would require clear identification of CD's that are manufactured with copy-protection measures.
Rep. Rick Boucher, a Virginia Democrat, is championing the bill, called the Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act (HR 107). Although the bill was not introduced until January 2003, Mr. Boucher has been trying to drum up support for legislation to amend the Digital Millennium Copyright Act for at least three years.
During...