Quick note on House Committee Appointments

Boucher Named Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet 

Representative Rick Boucher (D-VA) was named chair of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet on January 8.  While we don’t know what impact this appointment will have for the creative community, Boucher has repeatedly sought copyright reform to the detriment of rights owners.

Boucher sought to reduce anti-duplication protections in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and wrote a column in CNet defending the right of users, primarily consumers, to make limited copies of copyrighted material as a critical element of exercising their First Amendment rights.

Most recently, Boucher introduced the Freedom And Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship Act of 2007 (also called the FAIR USE Act of 2007 - not to be confused with the fair use section of the copyright law) with John Doolittle (R-CA) that would have allowed consumers to circumvent digital locks on media and limited statutory damages against individuals and firms that engaged in contributory infringement, inducement of infringement, vicarious liability and indirect infringement.

As always, the Guild will keep you informed of any further developments.