Congress applauds file-sharing ruling

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-5764787.html

Congress applauds file-sharing ruling

The U.S. Congress appears reluctant to step into the long-simmering debate over file-swapping that received new fuel from a landmark court ruling on Monday.

Key politicians from both major political parties said they were inclined to let the lawsuit, MGM v. Grokster, proceed through the court system before deciding whether to alter copyright law. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court handed the case back to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for a full trial.

Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said through a spokeswoman that he "is going to let the courts continue their role in reviewing the next phase of this case."

Sen. Orrin Hatch, the Utah Republican who heads an intellectual property subcommittee, said: "Prudence and respect for the role of the courts suggest Congress wait until it becomes clear how today's decision will play out in the lower courts before there is a rush to legislate."

It's common for Congress to respond to court rulings with legislative tinkering, and many observers were predicting that the loser in this case would ask politicians for help. In a concurring opinion on Monday, Justice Stephen Breyer practically invited action from Congress, noting that "the legislative option remains available."

<</SNIP>>

[Todd B]

1. Are you surprised?

Figures.

The same Congress that projects their own failed policies on other people rather then try to fix them side with the industry groups that would rather attack the messenger (technology) rather then admit that, perhaps, they need to take a step back and look at how they do business.

Can we please get some accountability (both in Washington *and* in corporations)? This absolutely infuriates me to no avail!

[Gman]

2. "Prudence and respect for the role of the courts..."

:wtf:

Oh yeah, this isn't about abortion or a brain dead girl.

[catzies]

3. Metallica gets more protection than women do

-- from another ruling today:

In a 7-2 decision, the Court ruled that local governments have no constitutional duty to protect from private violence an individual who is shielded by a court's restraining order. Such individuals do not gain an enforceable interest in that protection, the Court declared in an opinion by Justice Scalia. The case was Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales (04-278).

http://www.scotusblog.com/movabletype/archives/2005/06/access_to_cable.html#restrainme

[Endangered Specie]

4. sad isnt it?

[slay]

9. It really is

sad when corporations are protected instead of citizens. :(

[Nickster]

5. So glad to see Congress working on the important matters that protect the

corporations.Is it 2006 yet???

[depakid]

6. The iron triangle at work

or make that- with the addition of the corporate media- the iron quadrangle.

It's a classic lose/lose situation- in the end- everyone loses- even the corrupt and shortighted senators and the RIAA.

[slay]

7. If the entertainment industry would GET WITH THE TIMES

and offer up the programs and files people want to download, for a small fee, (like Apple's I-Tunes has done so successfully) people could download the entertainment they desire and these greedy corporate giants could still make their precious money. File sharing just fills the void that corporations in the entertainment industry have created by neglecting their audience and refusing to step into the broadband digital future.

[Deja Q]

8. Congress can be bought just as easily as the supreme court.

[Norbert]

10. If the shit doesn't sell what will be the record companies excuse be now?

Try something different and support the indie labels. This is where the real music is coming from.

[AlCzervik]

11. oh yes Orrin, your shitty recordings are safe now!

[lovuian]

12. Can they arrest China Canada Europe Asia they will be doing

it!!! and Americans will find a way!!!

[VegasWolf]

13. Hope these Republican Congressmen understand that the internet

is an international highway before they start celebrating.
The only reason that they are waiting is not due to deference
to the SCOTUS decision, it's because they have no fucking idea how to
stop international file sharing.