Press Releases: June, 2003
EFF on 7th Circuit Aimster Ruling
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals today ruled against Madster (formerly known as Aimster).
"Just as the inventors of the photocopier and the VCR, today's innovators should be free to produce useful products without fear of being sued simply because some people may misuse their products to commit copyright infringement ," said EFF staff attorney Jason Schultz. "By narrowing the landmark Supreme Court ruling in the Sony Betamax case, this decision will chill technology developers of all stripes."
Electronic Frontier Foundation "Let the Music Play" Campaign
Urges 60 Million Music Lovers in U.S. to Demand Legal Rights
San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
today launched a "Let the Music Play" campaign urging the
more than 60 million U.S. citizens who use file-sharing
software to demand changes in copyright law to get artists
paid and make file-sharing legal.
The EFF Let the Music Play campaign counters the Recording
Industry Association of America's (RIAA) announcement that
it will file thousands of lawsuits against individuals who
use file-sharing software like Kazaa, Grokster, and
Morpheus.
EFF on RIAA's Attack on the American Public
EFF responds to today's announcement by the RIAA that it will begin gathering evidence that will be used to sue individuals who use file-sharing software:
Public Has Right to Skip or Mute Movie Scenes
Electronic Frontier Foundation Defends Consumer Rights
San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today asked a federal court to rule that people have the right to use technology to skip scenes or mute language they find disturbing while viewing movies they have obtained lawfully.
The case, entitled Huntsman v. Soderbergh, involves consumer use of software and hardware to skip scenes of sex and violence and to mute profanity on DVDs of films they have purchased.
EFF responds to Hatch on computer destruction
Senator Orrin Hatch proposed yesterday that entertainment companies be entitled to destroy people's computers after two warnings of copyright infringement, according to press reports. "This is an entirely unreasonable proposal, tantamount to a debt collector sending you two warnings that your car payment is late and then claiming that he is entitled to burn down your garage," said EFF staff attorney Gwen Hinze.
EFF on Digital Networks' decision to disable ReplayTV's features
EFF is disappointed with Digital Networks North America's decision to disable the Commercial Advance and Send Show features in new model 5500 ReplayTVs. "This is yet another example of Hollywood dictating what technologies consumers can and can't use" said EFF Attorney Gwen Hinze. "Consumers are the real losers from Digital Networks' business decision. They will now be forced to watch commercials and forgo the benefits of technological innovation to meet the concerns of the 28 Hollywood studios who have been suing ReplayTV for the last two years."
EFF Statement on Court Order Requiring Verizon to Identify Users Pending Further Rulings
"RIAA's claim that it has an emergency need to violate the privacy of the two Verizon users is weak, especially since one of those users has already filed a declaration stating that he has disabled KaZaA entirely," said EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn. "Once again, RIAA has shown that it is willing to sacrifice normal procedures and processes that protect Americans' privacy and constitutional rights to protect its business model. The over 60 million KaZaA users (more people than voted for our President) are sending a clear signal that the industry is failing to meet their needs."
Dastar Court strengthens public domain
EFF welcomes the Supreme Court's decision in Dastar Corp. v. Twentieth Century Fox, that the Lanham Act does not interfere with republication of uncopyrighted works. "The Supreme Court's unanimous decision recognized that the public should be free to reuse materials from the public domain," said EFF Staff Attorney Wendy Seltzer.
