-------- Original Message -------- Subject: "Hollywood Hacking Bill" Author Named as Democrat Liaison to Entertainment Industry Date: Tue, 08 Mar 2005 14:28:50 -0500 From: Richard Forno <rforno@private> This is beyond absurd. Howard Berman is the Congresscritter who, a few years ago, wanted to enact laws that would let the entertainment industry "hack" private computers in their quest for copyright investigations.....his proposed law would also indemnify the entertainment cartels if those actions resulted in problems for the folks being "hacked" -- even if the "hack" resulted in not finding any "infringing" materials. As of today, the Democrats have the glaringly-ignorant shill of the entertainment industry (Berman) working for the greedy entertainment industry itself. How very convenient for all sides. Except the public (and many artists) of course. Anyway, some info on the old Berman Bill that shows how his mind works: http://news.com.com/2100-1023-945923.html?tag=fd_lede ...and the new press release from today... Pelosi Appoints Berman as Chief Liaison to the Entertainment Industry http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=886 Washington, D.C House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today announced the appointment of California Congressman Howard L. Berman as chief liaison between the House Democratic Caucus and the entertainment industry. Berman, a senior California lawmaker who has worked closely and productively with the film industry for years, will hold a more regular and institutionalized dialogue with industry representatives on issues vital to those who make and market films, music, and other copyrighted materials. Berman is the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property. "Howard Berman has long been a leader on copyright enforcement and stopping Internet piracy," Pelosi said. "He understands the business and creative interests of the entertainment industry, which comprises the largest and fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy and creates a surplus balance of trade. This appointment will put in place a process for even greater communication and mutual understanding between House Democrats and the entertainment industry." ³Entertainment is my hometown industry,² said Berman, ³and itıs one Iıve been working with closely for all the years Iıve been in Congress. I welcome this new way to emphasize its issues to the Democratic leadership.² _______________________________________________ Politech mailing list Archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Moderated by Declan McCullagh (http://www.mccullagh.org/)
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