WASHINGTON -- A last-minute agreement between online service providers and the copyright-rich content industries provided the political grease necessary for the House Judiciary Committee to vote in favor of changing U.S. law so that it is compatible with the World Intellectual Property Organization treaty.
Both the Recording Industry Assn. of America and the Motion Picture Assn. of America have endorsed WIPO's treaty, which they say will protect their copyrighted material on the Internet.
But just as content providers, including studios and record companies, reached an agreement over copyright liability with on-line service companies such as America Online and the regional Bell telephone companies, the National Assn. of Broadcasters said it would oppose the WIPO legislation.
Broadcasters say the proposed changes to U.S. copyright law would make it difficult for TV stations to run the closing credits of a program while simultaneously promoting another show. In addition, the NAB claims the changes would make it illegal for radio stations to create a temporary copy of several songs for replay.
In a letter to Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) NAB prexy Eddie Fritts wrote, "(W)e urged that the legislation not impose new unintended sanctions on radio and TV broadcasters for conduct that is permitted today under the Copyright Act."
Since the committee did not accept modifications proposed by NAB, Fritts said his org will oppose the legislation. Coble, who chairs the intellectual property subcommittee, said he is confident the differences with NAB can be worked out. "Judgment day is a long way off. I don't anticipate any problems," said Coble.
The Senate must also approve the modifications to U.S. copyright law. In addition, the Senate has sole authority to ratify the WIPO treaty itself.
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