monomer
10th March 2004, 05:50
I am a believer in fair use rights... whether its using a copying machine, a tape recorder, a VHS video recorder, a CD-R/W drive, or DVD-R/W drive. As long as I have legally purchased the original, I feel I have a right to preserve that information for my own personal use as I see fit. If you likewise agree in that interpretation of fair use rights then I suggest you go here http://capwiz.com/protectfairuse/mail/compose/ and then actively begin to voice your opinion to congress, the media, and the courts before Hollywood succeeds in distorting and then banishing those fair use rights forever. Its simple, just enter your zip code into the little red box entitled "Tell Congress to Defend Your Fair Use Rights" then click "GO"... you will be taken to a page that lists your US Representative(s) and both US Senators, there is a subject and message box already filled out for you... or if you wish you can simply type in your own message... fill in name/address/e-mail and click "SEND MESSAGE" that's all there is to it. Instead of just complaining on a forum about being denied your fair use rights, actually DO something about it. This is your chance... the BALANCE Act is making its way through the House of Representatives right now.
However if you don't believe consumers should have that right then please accept my apologies and ignore this posting and thread... Thank You
P.S. Below you will find a reproduction of the text message that will be sent to your congressional reps (unless you change/customize it)...
"As your constituent and a consumer of digital media, I urge you to support legislation in the 108th Congress that will correct an unintended consequence of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which weakened the rights of consumers like me to make copies of DVDs for personal use. Your prompt action is needed to address the February 20, 2004 ruling by the Northern District Court of California that further inhibits my ability to exercise my fair use rights.
I want the right to make a back-up copy of my personal, legally obtained DVDs. H.R. 107, the Digital Media Consumer Rights Act of 2003 and H.R.1066, the Benefit Authors without Limiting Advancement or Net Consumer Expectations (BALANCE) Act, would protect my right to fair use in the digital age, that is, my right to make copies for personal use of works I purchase in DVD format. I can already make copies of movies that I own onto VHS and music onto cassettes and MP3 players. As my representative, I need your support to ensure I have the same fair use of the DVDs that I own and that my family enjoys.
As new technologies continue to emerge, your leadership can help to restore and protect the balance between the rights of copyright holders and those of citizens who legally purchase copyrighted works.
While the movie industry has a right to protect and profit from their artistic works, I believe consumers have a fair use right to enjoy and make personal back-up copies of the works they legally purchased.
Do not allow special interests to criminalize consumers for exercising their fair use rights in the digital age. Please use your voice in Congress to find the middle ground in this debate over digital rights and ensure that legislation passes this session.
Thank you, in advance, for your leadership on this important issue."
However if you don't believe consumers should have that right then please accept my apologies and ignore this posting and thread... Thank You
P.S. Below you will find a reproduction of the text message that will be sent to your congressional reps (unless you change/customize it)...
"As your constituent and a consumer of digital media, I urge you to support legislation in the 108th Congress that will correct an unintended consequence of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which weakened the rights of consumers like me to make copies of DVDs for personal use. Your prompt action is needed to address the February 20, 2004 ruling by the Northern District Court of California that further inhibits my ability to exercise my fair use rights.
I want the right to make a back-up copy of my personal, legally obtained DVDs. H.R. 107, the Digital Media Consumer Rights Act of 2003 and H.R.1066, the Benefit Authors without Limiting Advancement or Net Consumer Expectations (BALANCE) Act, would protect my right to fair use in the digital age, that is, my right to make copies for personal use of works I purchase in DVD format. I can already make copies of movies that I own onto VHS and music onto cassettes and MP3 players. As my representative, I need your support to ensure I have the same fair use of the DVDs that I own and that my family enjoys.
As new technologies continue to emerge, your leadership can help to restore and protect the balance between the rights of copyright holders and those of citizens who legally purchase copyrighted works.
While the movie industry has a right to protect and profit from their artistic works, I believe consumers have a fair use right to enjoy and make personal back-up copies of the works they legally purchased.
Do not allow special interests to criminalize consumers for exercising their fair use rights in the digital age. Please use your voice in Congress to find the middle ground in this debate over digital rights and ensure that legislation passes this session.
Thank you, in advance, for your leadership on this important issue."