C-SPAN Relaxes Copyright Restrictions

[soothsayer]

C-SPAN is easing its copyright policy on some material for online use in order to expand citizens' access to online video of congressional hearings, White House activities, and other government-sponsored events. According to Broadcasting And Cable, C-SPAN said it would allow "non-commercial copying, sharing and posting of C-SPAN video on the internet, with attribution," of its past and future coverage of "official events sponsored by Congress and any federal agency"....

More here
http://www.dcrtv.com/

[Solon]

1. I don't see why the filming of Government activities is copyrighted at all...

While C-Span IS a private entity of sorts, its a non-profit, and is allowed unprecedented access into government institutions. I don't see why this stuff should be copyrighted at all, it should be in the public domain. Not ALL their programming, the interviews and specials could be copyrighted, but the straight filming of Congress, etc. should be public domain.

[soothsayer]

2. I'm with you, but I guess they spend money on filming things and

then would be annoyed if for-profit places just ripped 'em off?

[Sydnie]

3. They spend OUR money filming things

They get money from the cable industry to do what they do. It's built in to the cable bills. I imagine it's the same way with any of the satellite services as well as XM radio (since they aren't carried on Sirius anymore).

[soothsayer]

4. thanks for the explanation!

[Solon]

6. I think there is a difference...

First, there is no creativity there, no analysis by C-SPAN till after the footage is made, and THAT could be copyrighted, but the raw footage of the House and Senate should be public domain. Its the people's business as to what they do in there, and Congress ALLOWS C-SPAN to film the proceedings, Congress should be a "public domain" zone. The Government can't copyright anything it produces, why should C-SPAN, being allowed special privileges to film the government's business already, be extended the same courtesy?

Like I said, this is NARROWLY defined to only those matters that are filmed on the floors of the House and Senate, the debates, etc. Their other programs would be copyrighted in the traditional manner as all news programs are copyrighted. To be honest, I don't even think C-SPAN even enforces its copyrights, but its better safe than sorry, in this case.

[NCarolinawoman]

5. I wonder if that means we will have access to the Richard Perle/Wes Clark showdown?

Much was written of this in the Washington Post. It was a stormy meeting before the House Armed Services Committee. The Republican Walter Jones, in tears, stood up and demanded that Perle and the other Neo-Cons apologize for lying to the American people to get us into war.

Clark and Perle had faced off in 2002, but mostly everyone on the HASC had gone along with Perle''s recommendation to go to war. During this 2005 confrontation/re-match, it was reported that Duncan Hunter could barely keep control of his committee...lots of gavel pounding.

No one could get their hands on this tape. Everybody figured that Rove was turning the screws on C-Span.