What could happen if the Induce Act becomes law.

June 26, 2004

RichMan used our news submit to tell us "Read the fake lawsuit and see how bad this new law could be for all of us. I certainly hope that this never happens. How could any politician vote for something that will be so mis-used?"

If you find the PDF file annoying in the link below, just continue reading the article here, the fake lawsuit is listed on the this same page.

Senator Orrin Hatch and his colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee have introduced the Inducing Infringements of Copyright Act ("The Induce Act" [PDF, 25k]) this week. They want us to think the Act is no big deal, and that it targets only the bad guys while leaving the good guys alone. They say that it doesn't change the law; it just clarifies it. But they're wrong. And this legal complaint is the proof.

How? For campaign contributions that's how. Take a look at this page and see what may make our old buddy Orrin Hatch tick. Pay special attention to item number 7. Viacom is one contributor in that category, this year they "gave" him nearly 15,000 dollars. I'm not saying he is swayed by contributions, I am saying though that if he proposes unfavorable legislation to content providers, it would be illogical for them to support his re-election. But, what do I know.

To put this "public servant" in office in the election year of 2000, major corporate contributors included AOL Time Warner and Viacom at nearly 40 thousand dollars.

I have always wondered as well, purely conjecture mind you, how many of Orrin Hatches music albums are purchased by his lobbyist "fans". Oh, Hi Warren. I just bought 15,000 of your Osmond second generation bilge. Did I mention that I work for a major motion picture studio?

Special thanks to Open Secrets.org for helping us to keep an eye on political financing.

Source: EFF