My article on Rep. Boucher's pledge to regulate copy-protected CDs: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,50886,00.html Politech archive on Rep. Boucher: http://www.politechbot.com/cgi-bin/politech.cgi?name=boucher -Declan --- FOR RELEASE Contact: Jeff Joseph or Jenny Miller CEA CEA tel: (703) 907-7664 tel: (703) 907-7079 e-mail: jjosephat_private e-mail: jmillerat_private CEA Supports Rep. Boucher's Repeated Commitment to Consumer Fair Use Protections Arlington, Va., March 13, 2002 - Responding to a statement issued today by Representative Rick Boucher (D-VA) concerning the proliferation of copy protected compact discs (CDs), Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro said the following: "We commend Representative Boucher for his attention to this important consumer issue. The ability to use a lawfully purchased CD to make compilations or transfer music to other devices is a time-honored consumer right and must be preserved as technology advances. The deployment of copy-protected CD's threatens to unilaterally eliminate Americans' fair use right to noncommercial audio home recording. The fact that these copy protected CD's will not play on many legacy players already in the home and on CD players today on the retail shelf, combined with the lack of adequate labeling, will inevitably lead to confused, frustrated and no doubt angry consumers. Manufacturers also are concerned about possible audio quality degradation in these copy protected CD's that will result in sub par sound that consumers pay for and have a right to expect when they purchase a CD. We urge Rep. Boucher and other members of Congress to move forward in ensuring that America's non-commercial home recording rights are protected." About CEA: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) represents more than 650 U.S. companies involved in the design, development, manufacturing and distribution of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $70 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry. CEA represents the consumer electronics industry in association with the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Your Source for Workstyle and Lifestyle Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy. UPCOMING EVENTS 2002 CEA and EIA Spring Conference April 21-23, 2002, Washington, D.C. DTV Summit - Moving to Mass Markets April 24, 2002, Washington, D.C. CeBIT/CES Consumer Electronics May 29-June 1, 2002, Shanghai, China 6th Annual Consumer Electronics CEO Summit June 19-21, 2002, Coeur d'Alene, ID CEA Fall Conference and Industry Forum October 13-16, 2002, San Francisco, CA Electronic House Expo - Fall November 12-14, 2002, Long Beach, CA 2003 International CES - Your Source for Workstyle and Lifestyle Technology January 9-12, 2003, Las Vegas, NV ### I:/RELEASES/General GLA/boucher.response.1.13.02.doc ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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