House Committee Passes Compromise
Digital Copyright Bill
After much wrangling between content providers and library and education groups, the House Commerce Committee approved July 17 a version of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, H.R. 2281, that included provisions to protect fair use.
An amendment added by Rep. Scott Klug (R-Wisc.) delays a provision that would prohibit circumvention devices for two years while the Secretary of Commerce reviews the issue. The prohibition could be renewed every two years for classes of works where technological safeguards were harming fair use.
Committee Chair Thomas Bliley (R-Va.) said the agreement "gives consumers a reliable and regular process that ensures they will have fair use access to information and copyrighted work—without stifling growth in electronic commerce."
ALA has agreed not to oppose this version of the bill throughout the remainder of the legislative process; however, should other legislation that the Association opposes be combined with the measure, ALA will withdraw its support. The bill must now be reconciled with an earlier version approved by the House Judiciary Committee.
Posted July 27, 1998.
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