[LINK] A similar datacasting debate in the good ol' US of A
Dr. Bob Jansen
Bob.Jansen@turtlelane.com.au
Mon, 19 Jun 2000 11:17:09 +1000
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http://www.salon.com/tech/wire/2000/06/15/internet_broadcasting/index.html
Internet broadcasting debated before Congress
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Associated Press
June 16, 2000 | Major content providers - and the director of the
federal copyright office - argued Thursday that Internet companies
should not be eligible for the special licenses that satellite and
cable companies have to carry broadcast programming.
But Web businesses, testifying at a congressional hearing, said this
puts them on an uneven playing field and singles out their technology
as different from others.
Print story
E-mail story
Backflip this article to find it again
As more companies seek to stream network TV and radio programming
over the Internet, lawmakers have been raising questions about
whether existing law applies to the online world or what changes
should be enacted.
As technology improves, "the law must evolve as well to protect the
intellectual creations and to provide a convenient means of access to
those creations for consumers," said Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., who
chairs the House Judiciary's Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual
Property.
Current law enables cable operators and satellite companies to get
special blanket licenses so they can retransmit broadcast programming
without getting individual consent from each company. They then pay a
portion of their revenues into a fund which is distributed to the
individual copyright holders.
But many content providers are dead set against granting Internet
companies so-called compulsory licenses, saying that the medium
differs starkly from cable and satellite.
"Cable is to the Internet what lightning is to the lightning bug,"
said Jack Valenti, head of the Motion Picture Association of America,
at Thursday's hearing.
For example, an Internet site can take a broadcast signal and
instantly send it all over the world. And there is also the potential
for near-perfect digital copies to be made, Valenti noted.
Edward Fritts, head of the National Association of Broadcasters, also
raised concerns about Internet sites streaming programming in the
same markets where the local stations already carry those signals.
"The hallmark of American broadcast television is that it is locally
delivered," Fritts said.
Marybeth Peters, the register of copyrights at the U.S. Copyright
Office, said she believes it is premature to extend compulsory
licenses to the Internet.
She and others noted that if Internet businesses want to stream
broadcast programming or other content on their site, they can get
permission from each copyright holder individually.
"If the American people want TV programming over that, the
marketplace will take care of that," Peters said.
Online businesses that stream content on their sites say this creates
a disparity in the law between their medium and others that bring
audiences programming. Without compulsory licenses, companies must
devote time and money to securing permission to carry each copyright
program.
Blanket broadcast licenses have helped the cable and satellite
industry to develop, said Peggy Miles, who chairs the International
Webcasting Association and is president of Intervox Communications.
"To level the playing field, webcasters should have access to" the
same licenses, Miles said. She pledged to work with broadcasters to
address the thorny issue of geographic boundaries.
Jonathan Potter, executive director of the Digital Media Association,
asked the lawmakers to consider why there should be any difference
between content delivered over the Internet, versus content that
comes via cable or satellite dish.
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<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="+3"
color="#000000">http://www.salon.com/tech/wire/2000/06/15<span
></span>/internet_broadcasting/index.html</font></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="+3"
color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="+3" color="#000000">Internet
broadcasting debated before Congress<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman" size="+1"
color="#000000"> <br>
<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman" color="#999999">- - - - - - - - -
- - -<br>
</font><font face="Verdana" color="#000000"><b>Associated
Press</b></font><font face="Times" size="+1" color="#000000"><br>
<br>
</font><font face="Verdana" color="#000000">June 16, 2000 | Major
content providers - and the director of the federal copyright office
- argued Thursday that Internet companies should not be eligible for
the special licenses that satellite and cable companies have to carry
broadcast programming.<br>
<br>
But Web businesses, testifying at a congressional hearing, said this
puts them on an uneven playing field and singles out their technology
as different from others.<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Verdana" size="-1" color="#CC0000"><u>Print
story<br>
<br>
E-mail story<br>
<br>
</u></font><font face="Verdana" size="-1"
color="#000000"> </font><font face="Verdana" size="-1"
color="#CC0000"><u>Backflip this article</u></font><font
face="Verdana" size="-1" color="#000000"> to find it again<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Verdana" color="#000000">As more companies seek to
stream network TV and radio programming over the Internet, lawmakers
have been raising questions about whether existing law applies to the
online world or what changes should be enacted.<br>
<br>
As technology improves, "the law must evolve as well to protect
the intellectual creations and to provide a convenient means of
access to those creations for consumers," said Rep. Howard
Coble, R-N.C., who chairs the House Judiciary's Subcommittee on
Courts and Intellectual Property.<br>
<br>
Current law enables cable operators and satellite companies to get
special blanket licenses so they can retransmit broadcast programming
without getting individual consent from each company. They then pay a
portion of their revenues into a fund which is distributed to the
individual copyright holders.<br>
<br>
But many content providers are dead set against granting Internet
companies so-called compulsory licenses, saying that the medium
differs starkly from cable and satellite.<br>
<br>
"Cable is to the Internet what lightning is to the lightning
bug," said Jack Valenti, head of the Motion Picture Association
of America, at Thursday's hearing.<br>
<br>
For example, an Internet site can take a broadcast signal and
instantly send it all over the world. And there is also the potential
for near-perfect digital copies to be made, Valenti noted.<br>
<br>
Edward Fritts, head of the National Association of Broadcasters, also
raised concerns about Internet sites streaming programming in the
same markets where the local stations already carry those signals.<br>
<br>
"The hallmark of American broadcast television is that it is
locally delivered," Fritts said.<br>
<br>
Marybeth Peters, the register of copyrights at the U.S. Copyright
Office, said she believes it is premature to extend compulsory
licenses to the Internet.<br>
<br>
She and others noted that if Internet businesses want to stream
broadcast programming or other content on their site, they can get
permission from each copyright holder individually.<br>
<br>
"If the American people want TV programming over that, the
marketplace will take care of that," Peters said.<br>
<br>
Online businesses that stream content on their sites say this creates
a disparity in the law between their medium and others that bring
audiences programming. Without compulsory licenses, companies must
devote time and money to securing permission to carry each copyright
program.<br>
<br>
Blanket broadcast licenses have helped the cable and satellite
industry to develop, said Peggy Miles, who chairs the International
Webcasting Association and is president of Intervox
Communications.<br>
<br>
"To level the playing field, webcasters should have access
to" the same licenses, Miles said. She pledged to work with
broadcasters to address the thorny issue of geographic boundaries.<br>
<br>
Jonathan Potter, executive director of the Digital Media Association,
asked the lawmakers to consider why there should be any difference
between content delivered over the Internet, versus content that
comes via cable or satellite dish.</font><br>
<font face="Verdana" color="#000000"></font></div>
</body>
</html>
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