5 June 1998


Date:         Fri, 5 Jun 1998 08:57:31 -0400
From: Dan L Burk <BURKDANL@SHU.EDU>
Subject:      EFF and ACLU speak out on H.R. 2281
To: CYBERIA-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM

The following letter went out to all members of the House Commerce Committee, which considers H.R. 2281 today.

*********************************************************************

The Electronic Frontier Foundation    The American Civil Liberties Union
     1550 Bryant Street, Suite 725         122 Maryland Ave, NE

     San Francisco, CA  94103              Washington, DC  20002
     (415) 436-9333                        (202) 544-1681


                                                        June 4, 1998
The Honorable Tom Bliley
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515


Dear Representative Bliley,

We write to you on behalf of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to urge you to reject H.R.
2281, the WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act.
[See House Report: hr105-551.txt]

H.R. 2281 poses a direct threat to the free speech and privacy rights of
online users.  It would over-regulate emerging technologies, eliminate
existing privacy protections, outlaw reverse engineering that is
necessary for system security, outlaw system security measures such as
encryption, and weaken fair use privileges.  While proponents of the
bill describe it as a compromise measure, the only thing being
compromised is the well-established balance between content owners and
content users in the digital world.

Three sections of the bill are especially threatening to privacy, free
speech, and computer security:

Section 1201 makes the use, manufacture or sale of any technology that
can be used to circumvent copyright protections illegal.  A host of
vital technologies, equipment and processes can be used for, but are not
intended to be used for, such abuse, and Congress should not outlaw them
any more than you should outlaw the making or sale of crowbars or
baseball bats because they can be used for vandalism.  This section
will:

· Make it illegal for a user to circumvent technological protections put
on his own materials by a piece of equipment.  Many digital recorders
forbid the making of any digital copies, including copies of a user*s
own creations.  H.R. 2281 would make the circumvention of these
technological measures, and the manufacture of devices that would
facilitate this circumvention, criminal.

· Criminalize the manufacture, import, or use of tools necessary to
perform research in cryptography.  Under H.R. 2281, the manufacture of
software tools that test the viability of a proposed encryption
algorithm would be prohibited.

· Impede the ability of system operators to find and correct weaknesses
in their systems.  System operators have important, legitimate reasons
to attempt to circumvent such access control technologies to confirm the
security of the password file or other vulnerable elements of the
system.  They must be able to use or create software that circumvents
access control technologies to determine the robustness of the security
system.

· Prevent computer users from protecting their privacy online by
removing *cookies*--files automatically and covertly placed on users*
computers by web site programs--from their computer.  Additionally, if
cookies are used as a copyright protection system, it would be unlawful

to manufacture a device that removes the cookie from the system.

Section 1202 allows for the collection of personally identifiable
information as part of the Copyright Management System.  This section
will:

· Allow content owners to collect personally-identifiable information
about users who access their copyrighted works.  This will eliminate
anonymous reading and allow content owners to track not only which
online magazines citizens buy, but also which articles they read and
which pictures they look at.

Section 201 encourages system operators to violate the privacy and
protected speech rights of their users.  This section will:

· Exempt service providers from liability if they disable access to or
remove material claimed to be infringing, regardless of whether the
material or activity is ultimately determined to be infringing.  This
encourages them to remove potentially protected speech without any real
proof of infringement.

· Permit service providers to violate users' privacy by sifting through
customers' electronic files, documents and e-mail looking for potential
infringements.

Indeed, the restrictions on privacy rights and tools contained in this
bill run contrary to the efforts of members of Congress and the
Administration to provide adequate privacy protections in the digital
world.

H.R. 2281 goes beyond what is required by the WIPO treaties and expands
the scope of current copyright law by punishing anyone who circumvents
technological measures that protect copyright, regardless of whether
there was any intent to infringe.  This bill also would impose penalties
on those who make or distribute technologies capable of breaking
copyright protections.  These classifications are broad and vague and
could apply to computer manufacturers, software companies, and many
others engaged in legitimate businesses having nothing to do with
encouraging copyright infringement.

A bill that does a much better job of striking the balance between
content owners and information users in the digital world is the Digital
Era Copyright Enhancement Act, H.R. 3048.  Sponsored by Representatives
Boucher and Campbell, H.R. 3048 is a comprehensive bill that would
encourage the development of new technologies and markets for
copyrighted works in digital form.  H.R. 3048 would punish the behavior
of circumventing copyright protections with the intent to infringe on
another*s copyright, rather than outlawing all devices that could be
used for circumvention.

In addition, H.R. 3048 updates Section 107 (Fair Use) and other sections
of the Copyright Act to ensure that libraries, students, educators, and
nonprofit organizations enjoy the same limited freedoms to use
copyrighted materials they have in the nondigital world.  Teachers could
make limited copies of classroom materials for distance learning, where
their "classrooms" are expanded over the Internet, without fear of
copyright infringement.  Librarians and other archivists could update
obsolete storage media (such as microfiche) to newer, more efficient
digital media.

The WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act, H.R. 2281, is a
dangerous bill that will undermine the delicate balance that has been

struck in over 200 years of copyright history in this country.  EFF and
the ACLU urge you to vote against H.R. 2281.

If we can provide you with additional information, please do not
hesitate to contact either of us at the numbers above.  Thank you for
your consideration of our concerns.


Respectfully yours,


/s/   Laura Murphy                              /s/   Barry Steinhardt
Director, ACLU Washington Office                President, EFF


Date: Thu, 04 Jun 1998 18:38:33 -0400 To: bdcollar@ix.netcom.com, 74511.167@compuserve.com, brujan@electrotex.com, M2150@worldnet.att.net, cdci@gte.net, cypherpunks@cyberpass.net, sfrt@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us, nisus@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us, johngalt@digital.net, support@IntNet.net, jpenrod@sihope.com, jmr@shopmiami.com, jrb@qnet.com, mikef@vmicro.com, Mrlosal@aol.com, ecurry@interaccess.net, rocster@ij.net, sysadmin@ns1.greencis.net, ssmith@horizon.hit.net, sysop@bbs-la.com From: "EPIC-News List" <epic-news@epic.org> (by way of "Edwin E. Smith" <edsmith@IntNet.net>) Subject: Action Alert: Copyright Bill Threatens Online Privacy and Security Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Sender: owner-cypherpunks@cyberpass.net Precedence: first-class Reply-To: "EPIC-News List" <epic-news@epic.org> (by way of "Edwin E. Smith" <edsmith@IntNet.net>) X-List: cypherpunks@cyberpass.net X-Loop: cypherpunks@cyberpass.net ========================================================================== Please distribute widely to appropriate forums June 3, 1998 IMMEDIATE ACTION ALERT Consumer Project on Technology (http://www.cptech.org) Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org) Electronic Privacy Information Center (http://www.epic.org) DIGITAL COPYRIGHT BILL THREATENS ONLINE PRIVACY AND SECURITY CONTACT KEY REPRESENTATIVES ON THE HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE    SUMMARY:       *  Latest News:          House "WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act" (H.R. 2281)          would over-regulate emerging technologies, eliminate privacy          protections, outlaw reverse engineering and encryption security          measures, and weaken fair use privileges.       *  What You Can Do Now:          Follow the directions below and call members of House Commerce          Committee. Ask them to oppose any bill that seeks to regulate          technology itself, rather than the behavior that constitutes          a misuse of the technology. Explain that a better alternative          is H.R. 3048.          For More Information, see the Digital Future Coalition                        http://www.dfc.org     _________________________________________________________________ THE LATEST NEWS On Friday June 5, the House Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection will hold a hearing on H.R. 2281, the "WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act."  The House Judiciary Committee has already approved this bill that will dramatically alter the time honored balance between content owners and the user community.  The legislation will also seriously erode the leadership that the United States currently enjoys in research and development of encryption algorithms, cryptographic products, and computer security technology.  It also seriously threatens privacy online. Three sections of the bill are extremely threatening to privacy, free speech, and computer security: Section 1201 makes the use, manufacture or sale of ANY technology that can be used to circumvent copyright protections illegal. A host of vital technologies, equipment and processes "can" be, but are not intended, for such abuse, and Congress should not outlaw them, any more than they may outlaw the making or sale of crowbars or baseball bats because they "can" be used for vandalism. This will:       * criminalize the manufacture, import, or use of tools necessary to         perform research in cryptography.  Under HR 2281, the manufacture of         software tools that test the viability of a proposed encryption         algorithm would be prohibited.       * impede the ability of system operators to find and correct weaknesses         in their systems.  System operators have important, legitimate reasons         to attempt to circumvent such access control technologies to confirm         the security of the password file or other vulnerable elements of         the system. They must be able to use or create software that         circumvents access control technologies to determine the robustness         of the security system.       * prevent computer users from protecting their privacy online by         removing cookies from their computer.  Additionally, if cookies are         used as a copyright protection system it would be unlawful to         manufacture a device that removes the cookie from the system. Section 1202: Allows for the collection of personally identifiable information as part of the Copyright Management System.  This section will:       * allow content owners to collect personally- identifiable information         about users who access their copyrighted works.  This will eliminate         anonymous reading and allow content owners to track not only which         online magazines you buy but also which articles you read and which         pictures you look at. Section 201: Encourages system operators to violate the privacy and protected speech rights of their users.  This section will: * exempt service providers from liability if they disable access   to or remove material claimed to be infringing, regardless of   whether the material or activity is ultimately determined to   be infringing.  This encourages them to remove potentially   protected speech without any real proof of infringement.  It also         * allow OSPs to violate users privacy by sifting through customers'           electronic files, documents and e-mail looking for a potential           infringements. **ALTERNATIVE: SUPPORT H.R. 3048** A much better WIPO treaty implementation bill, which punishes the *act* of unlawful infringement and maintains privacy protections, is H.R. 3048, the "Digital Era Copyright Enhancement Act."  H.R. 3048 would encourage the development of new technologies and markets for copyrighted works in digital form, and give intellectual property holders the strong tools they need to go after infringing conduct while protecting privacy, security, and anonymity.     _________________________________________________________________ IMMEDIATE ACTION TO TAKE Privacy, encryption, fair use, and security supporters, *especially i.e., supporters from states represented on the House Commerce Committee*, are asked to IMMEDIATELY contact these key Representatives and ask them to withhold support from H.R. 2281, and instead support the more balanced approach of H.R. 3048.  Then contact your own legislator and urge them to do the same. We ask you to take JUST TWO MINUTES to contact the offices of the Committee members and your own representative and express your opposition to this legislation! Urge the Representatives to refrain from burdening the development of new technologies and ensure that privacy is protected in the digital world. If you are unsure who your legislators are or how to contact them, see the EFF Congress Contact Factsheet at: http://www.eff.org/congress.html Feel free to make use of the sample fax and phone "script" below. Please at minimum contact your own Rep, and committee chairman Howard Bliley, ranking member John Dingell, Telecommunications Subcommittee chair William Tauzin and ranking Subcommittee member Edward Markey. If you have time, please call/fax as many of ther members of the Committee as you can.                   HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE     ST    PTY   REPRESENTATIVE                PHONE          FAX       DIST     ---------------------------------------- (Use 202 area code)---    SUBCOMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TRADE, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION     LA 03  R W.J. "Billy" Tauzin           225-4031      225-0563     OH 04  R Michael G. Oxley              225-2676        n/a     CO 06  R Dan Schaefer                  225-7882      225-3414     TX 06  R Joe Barton                    225-2002      225-3052     IL 14  R J. Dennis Hastert             225-2976      225-0697     MI 06  R Fred Upton                    225-3761      225-4986     FL 06  R Cliff Stearns                 225-5744      225-3973     OH 05  R Paul E. Gillmor               225-6405      225-1985     WI 02  R Scott L. Klug                 225-2906      225-6942     CA 47  R Christopher Cox               225-5611      225-9177     GA 09  R Nathan Deal                   225-5211      225-8272     OK 01  R Steve Largent                 225-2211      225-9187     WA 01  R Rick White                    225-6311      225-3524     CA 27  R James Rogan                   225-4176      225-5828     IL 20  R John Shimkus                  225-5271      225-5880     MA 07  D Edward J. Markey              225-2836      226-0340     VA 09  D Rick Boucher                  225-3861      225-0442     TN 06  D Bart Gordon                   225-4231      225-6887     NY 17  D Eliot L. Engel                225-2464      225-5513     OH 14  D Thomas C. Sawyer              225-5231      225-5278     NY 07  D Thomas J. Manton              225-3965      225-1909     IL 01  D Bobby L. Rush                 225-4372      226-0333     CA 14  D Anna G. Eshoo                 225-8104      225-8890     PA 04  D Ron Klink                     225-2565      225-2274     MD 04  D Albert R. Wynn                225-8699      225-8714     TX 29  D Gene Green                    225-1688      225-9903     MO 05  D Karen McCarthy                225-4535      225-4403                  HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE     VA 07  R Tom Bliley (chair)            225-2815     225-0011     FL 09  R Michael Bilirakis             225-5755      225-4085     NY 27  R Bill Paxon                    225-5265      225-5910     PA 08  R James C. Greenwood            225-4276      225-9511     ID 02  R Michael D. Crapo              225-5531      225-8216     NC 05  R Richard Burr                  225-2071      225-2995     CA 49  R Brian P. Bilbray              225-2040      225-2948     KY 01  R Ed Whitfield                  225-3115      225-3547     IA 04  R Greg Ganske                   225-4426      225-3193     GA 10  R Charlie Norwood               225-4101      225-0279     OK 02  R Tom Coburn                    225-2701      225-3038     NY 02  R Rick Lazio                    225-3335      225-4669     WY AL  R Barbara Cubin                 225-2311      225-3057     MI 16  D John D. Dingell               225-4071        n/a     CA 29  D Henry A. Waxman               225-3976      225-4099     TX 04  D Ralph M. Hall                 225-6673      225-3332     NY 10  D Edolphus Towns                225-5936      225-1018     NJ 06  D Frank Pallone  Jr.            225-4671      225-9665     OH 13  D Sherrod Brown                 225-0123      225-2256     OR 01  D Elizabeth Furse               225-0855      225-9497     FL 20  D Peter Deutsch                 225-7931      225-8456     MI 01  D Bart Stupak                   225-4735      225-4744     OH 06  D Ted Strickland                225-5705      225-5907     CO 01  D Diana DeGette                 225-4413      225-5657   SAMPLE PHONE "SCRIPT" & SAMPLE FAX If you would like to both call and send a fax, this extra action would certainly help. For best results, try to put this in your own (short!) words, and be emotive without being hostile. IF YOU ARE A CONSTITUENT (i.e., you live in the same district as the Rep. you are contacting) make sure to say so.  For example "I am a constituent, and I'm calling/writing because...." IF YOU REPRESENT A COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION, say so: "I'm Jane Person from Personal Technologies Inc. of Austin.  I'm calling on behalf of Personal Technologies to ask the Representative to...." Business interests carry a lot of weight with many legislators, especially if they are in the legislator's home district. Legislators also generally heed organizational voices over individual ones.    PHONE "SCRIPT"      You: [ring ring]      Legislative staffer: Hello, Representative Lastname's office.      You: I'm calling to urge Representative Lastname to OPPOSE H.R. 2281, the      WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act.  I am extremely      concerned about the effects on privacy. Additionally, the bill's      anti-circumvention provision is overbroad.      I urge Representative Lastname to OPPOSE H.R. 2281 and instead SUPPORT      H.R. 3048.  Thank you.      Staffer: OK, thanks. [click] It's that easy. You can optionally ask to speak to the legislator's technology & intellectual property staffer. You probably won't get to, but the message may have more weight if you succeed. The staffer who first answers the phone probably won't be the tech/i.p. staffer.    SAMPLE FAX Relevant Congressional fax numbers are in the contact list above. Please, if you have the time, write your own 1-3 paragraph letter in your own words, rather than send a copy of this sample letter. (However, sending a copy of the sample letter is far better than taking no action!)      Dear Rep. Lastname:      I am writing to ask you to oppose H.R. 2281, the WIPO Copyright      Treaties Implementation Act.  The Act would impose a variety of      civil and criminal penalties for the use, manufacture or sale of      technologies, including multi-purpose computers, home electronic      devices and software programs, that could be used to overcome      technological safeguards on copyrighted works.  This bill would      impede encryption research that helps ensure secure networks, prevent      legitimate reverse engineering in the development of new software,      and effectively overrule the Supreme Court's decision in Sony Corp.      v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 464 U.S. 417 (1984), which      permitted the home taping of television broadcasts.  It also could      jeopardize education and research by allowing copyright owners to      lock up public domain materials, and by frustrating the fair use      rights of information consumers.      H.R. 2281 goes much farther than is necessary under the WIPO      treaties.  Instead, a more balanced and rational bill is H.R. 3048,      the Digital Era Copyright Enhancement Act, a measure providing      protection and legal remedies against the *act* of circumvention      itself when that circumvention is undertaken for an unlawful purpose.      Please oppose H.R. 2281 and support H.R. 3048.  Thank you.      Sincerely,      My Name Here      My Address Here (Address is especially important if you want your letter to be taken as a letter from an actual constituent.) For brief tips on writing letters to Congress, see: http://www.vote-smart.org/contact/contact.html The most important tip is to BE POLITE AND BRIEF. Swearing will NOT help.     _________________________________________________________________ MORE ACTION TO TAKE After calling/faxing members of the House Commerce Committee, please contact your own Representatives and urge them to oppose H.R. 2281, the WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act. You may also wish to follow up your calls and faxes with e-mail.                           HOUSE LEADERSHIP     ST    PTY   REPRESENTATIVE                PHONE          FAX       DIST     ---------------------------------------- (Use 202 area code)---     GA  6   R  Gingrich, Newt                225-4501      225-4656     TX  26  R  Armey, Richard                225-7772      226-8100     MO  3   D  Gephardt, Richard             225-2671      225-7452     TX  22  R  DeLay, Tom                    225-5951      225-5241     MI  10  D  Bonior, David                 225-2106      226-1169     OH  8   R  Boehner, John                 225-6205      225-0704     CA  47  R  Cox, Christopher              225-5611      225-9177     CA  3   D  Fazio, Vic                    225-5716      225-5141     MD  5   D  Hoyer, Steny                  225-4131      225-4300     _________________________________________________________________ House leaders are, respectively: Speaker, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Maj. Whip, Min. Whip, Republican Conference Chair, Rep. Policy Committee Chair, Democratic Caucus Chair, Dem. Steering Cmte. Chair. [end of alert] ==========================================================================