Chairman
Hatch Unveils High Tech Priorities for
Senate Judiciary Committee
Senator
Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
recently told members of the Utah Information and Technology Association
that bolstering online copyright and privacy protections were top
priorities on the committees agenda for the current legislative
session.
Senator
Hatch said he plans to further explore the issue of copyright and
fair use as it applies to cyberspace, "where some of the assumptions
underpinning traditional copyright law may not be relevant, or need
to be applied by proper analogy."
Despite
several recent court rulings against the controversial file-sharing
company Napster, which have helped to define copyright protections
in cyberspace, Hatch indicated his intention to continue to investigate
how copyright should be applied to the Internet. "We need to
look at how we can foster the continued convergence of information,
entertainment and communication services on a variety of platforms
and devices that will make life more enjoyable and convenient. And,
we need to encourage an open and competitive environment in the
production and distribution of content on the Internet," said
Hatch. The senator has been a strong proponent of file-sharing services,
such as Napster.
In
addition, Senator Hatch restated to the Utah high tech leaders his
concerns about online privacy. Last year, the senator co-sponsored
a bill with Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) that would have
established sweeping new rules for companies that collect personal
information about consumers over the Internet. The bill failed to
pass last session, but similar efforts are sure to be considered
by the Judiciary Committee this year.
While
Chairman Hatchs intentions are good, the committee should
move cautiously against over-burdensome legislation to deal with
online privacy concerns. The technology industry is making great
progress toward the protection of consumer confidence in their personal
and financial information over the Internet. Cookie cutter legislation
could result in unintended consequences, putting severe restrictions
on advancements in technology.
Moreover,
the committee needs to protect what the courts have said with regards
to copyright protections online. The widespread distribution of
information over the web is a good thing, but it must be done in
a way that copyright holders are protected against the theft of
their intellectual property.
Return
to Internet Index
|