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Senate Commerce Committee to Hold Digital Copy Protections Hearing and Discussion of SSSCA
(c) February 27, 2002
The Senate Commerce committee, headed by Senator Fritz Hollings, is scheduled to convene today for a hearing on digital copy protections. Senator Hollings, along with Walt Disney Chairman Michael Eisner, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) President Jack Valenti and Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) President and CEO Hilary Rosen, believes that copy-protection controls should be embedded into all future consumer electronic devices and PCs. This idea was originally proposed by Hollings last August in his Security Systems Standards and Certification Act (SSSCA) which would make it illegal to create, sell or distribute "any interactive digital device that does not include and utilize certified security technologies." An interactive digital device is defined as any hardware or software capable of "storing, retrieving, processing, performing, transmitting, receiving or copying information in digital form." The scheduled hearing on Thursday won't be used to introduce new legislation. Rather, they'll discuss whether the U.S. government should require that copy protections be embedded into consumer electronic devices, something which those in the tech industry oppose. Their view towards the governments meddling was made clear in a 600-word letter that was sent to the heads of the movie studios and Hollings. Spokeswoman Jennifer Greeson said that "there is a consensus within the industry that a government-mandated standard is not in the best interests of effectively solving" the problem of piracy. Unfortunately, the MPAA's Jack Valenti and the RIAA's Hilary Rosen don't agree. Earlier this week, Valenti made a pitch for copy-controlled PCs in a letter which was published by the Washington Post. Similarly, Rosen submitted testimony for Thursdays hearing, expressing the "RIAA's clear support for the initiatives being discussed." |