Clinton Signs New Restrictive Cyberspace Copyright Law (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Reactions to what follows below from the list?

Robert Weissman
Essential Information			|   Internet:	rob@essential.org

> To all those who have received articles from me, who periodically repost new
> articles themselves, or who run newsgroups:
> 
 It seems that the "Fair Use"
> Doctrine, which I contend covered much of the material I have been posting
> (which others may dispute), may have been nullified by a new law recently
> signed by Clinton.  While the article indicates that the primary target of
> the law is software piracy, it is by no means limited to that.  If this new
> law is interpreted restrictively, any reproduction of an article from a
> website (NYT, WSJ, etc.) via the Internet, whether to individuals or to a
> newgroup listserve, would constitute a violation.  The Fair Use exclusion
> that allows partial excerpts for scholarly citation, review or commentary
> would likely still apply, but reproduction of an entire article would be
> precluded under most circumstances.  There is no restriction on posting URL
> (web addresses) that allow others to go to the source to see the article in
> its entirety; however, that assumes the site is not restricted to paid
> subscribers (e.g., WSJ Interactive Edition).  It also will mean that each
> person will have to take the time to chase down their own copies.  (This
> generally takes me from 30-60 minutes per day to locate, reformat, combine,
> and distribute.)
> 
> For those who have asked to be included on my distribution list, and
> newsgroups to which I have posted selected articles, this new set of
> restrictions constitutes a considerable restraint.  As this Act is only very
> recently signed into law, it remains to be seen who will be prosecuted, for
> what kinds of alleged violations, and what happens when test cases go to the
> courts.    Stay tuned.  
> 
> In solidarity,
> Michael E. (The Pirate of Agitprop)
>