With the launch of the group Digital Freedom, the copyright wars have finally become partisan.
This is an important, albeit risky milestone. Until now both political parties had been united against Internet issues. Democrats heard Hollywood first, Republicans heard their bosses on Wall Street first. The interests of Internet users, or small Internet businesses, were not heard.
Look at the sponsors and you see this is a Democratic affair. The best clue to this is the participation of the New America Foundation. They want to the the Heritage Foundation of the next generation.
Can they succeed? That will be a two-part invention.
- Stop groups like the PFF from making things worse.
- Work through the political process to make something better.
The chances are improved by the fact that no one -- not even me -- wants to get rid of copyright. We're really looking to restore the balance which existed before the DMCA, and which the original sponsors of that act claimed they were going to maintain.
Restore fair use. Eliminate content's veto over all technology. Expand the commons. Focus on the Constitutional goal of the copyright act -- to create more.
The biggest problem with getting copyright reform has been the lack of a business case. Open source is making that case. The second step is applying mass pressure for change. This has now begun. The third step will be negotiating solutions from within the regulatorium -- only after the Copyright Fascists realize they can't steamroller us will that happen.
So welcome to Step Two. It's going to be a long struggle, but all this is possible. Join the fight.
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