DMCA Hearings

Rebecca Tushnet is posting descriptions of the testimony given at the DMCA hearings. As I posted earlier (see also here), these hearings are about whether vidders - and others, like teachers - should be exempt from penalties for breaking copy protection on digital works. The OTW and other groups have already submitted written materials arguing that if a particular vid constitutes fair use under U.S. copyright law, the vidder should also be exempt from penalties for circumventing copy protection. I particularly love Rebecca's description of the trademark attorneys who didn't understand that they could be subject to penalties for ripping clips even for the purpose of submitting them as evidence at a hearing.

Signs of the Times

Bruce Bartlett reminds us that Republicans once cared about whether rich people paid low or no taxes.