Congress readies broad new digi copyright bill

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Congress readies broad new digital copyright bill
By Declan McCullagh
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: April 23, 2006, 6:00 AM PDT
Last modified: April 24, 2006, 10:00 AM PDT

update For the last few years, a coalition of technology companies, academics and computer programmers has been trying to persuade Congress to scale back the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Now Congress is preparing to do precisely the opposite. A proposed copyright law seen by CNET News.com would expand the DMCA's restrictions on software that can bypass copy protections and grant federal police more wiretapping and enforcement powers.

What's new:
A new bill in Congress would expand restrictions on software that can bypass copyright protections and would grant federal authorities greater wiretapping and enforcement powers.

High ImpactBottom line:
The 24-page bill is a far-reaching medley of different proposals cobbled together that would follow on from the controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

(More stories on the DMCA)

The draft legislation, created by the Bush administration and backed by Rep. Lamar Smith, already enjoys the support of large copyright holders such as the Recording Industry Association of America. Smith, a Texas Republican, is the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee that oversees intellectual-property law.

A spokesman for the House Judiciary Committee said Friday that the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2006 is expected to "be introduced in the near future."