Electronics Assn. attacks anti-piracy laws

Cyberbiz Brief

By DAVID BLOOM

Efforts by the MPAA and others to expand state-level anti-piracy laws are "wolves in sheep's clothing" that could have "a profound and destructive impact on consumers," the Consumer Electronics Assn. said in a statement released Wednesday.

The trade association for most of the major CE makers said such anti-piracy laws also would "outlaw the manufacturing and use of many existing consumer electronics products and hinder future technological developments."

The trade group said the MPAA and related Hollywood firms have been going to state lawmakers around the country in an effort to circumvent problems Hollywood has had getting Congress to further expand anti-piracy measures. According to the CEA, some of the new measures mimic the 1998 Digital Copyright Millennium Act while providing none of the consumer safeguards contained in that controversial landmark legislation.