Rep. Darrell Issa Worried That Strict Copyright Laws Are Stifling Competition And Innovation

from the finally... dept

Fri, Sep 17th 2010 10:00am — Mike Masnick

The list of Congressional Representatives who seem to actually understand copyright issues is a pretty short one (which can be counted with the fingers of one hand), so it's always nice to see at least hints of another one beginning to wake up to the problems of today's copyright laws. While much of the recent House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy focused on a frightfully silly attack on Google, not all of the discussion was apparently about Google. At one point, it appears that Rep. Darrell Issa asked the panelists if "strict intellectual property laws could be stifling competition and innovation." Thankfully, Ed Black from CCIA was one of the panelists, and was quick to point out that this was absolutely true, even pointing out how copyright, at times, appears to "interfere with free speech." I have no idea if this actually means much in the grand scheme of things, but it's so rare to see an elected official even admit that there might possibly be some downsides to copyright law, that it seemed worth highlighting.

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Filed Under: competition, copyright, darrell issa, innovation

10 Comments

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Steve R. (profile), 17 Sep 2010 @ 10:06am

One Can Only Hope
Will there be ever be sane voice in Congress?
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- Torinir (profile), 17 Sep 2010 @ 10:13am
  
  Re: One Can Only Hope
  Sanity? In government? Never. Not in this lifetime at any rate.
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  - ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 17 Sep 2010 @ 10:24am
    
    Re: Re: One Can Only Hope
    If by 'sane' you mean 'the industries' wishes' then yes.
    
    Otherwise you're shit out of luck.
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  - Doc, 17 Sep 2010 @ 11:37am
    
    Re: Re: One Can Only Hope
    It's funny to see that US citizens complain about the same idiocy displayed by their government as we do. We of the former communist countries hope to have governments as efficient, benevolent and incorruptible as yours in about 100 years given current evolution. It seems however they are not all that different "up there".
    Cheers!
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    - Steve R. (profile), 17 Sep 2010 @ 2:31pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: One Can Only Hope
      We are rapidly moving to a "planned economy" similar to the old USSR. The difference; instead of a bureaucrat idly establishing production goals, we have tax "incentives" to encourage production. So, maybe the old communists will have the last laugh after all.
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Vic, 17 Sep 2010 @ 10:56am

it seemed worth highlighting.

It definitely does! Thanks!
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BillDivX, 17 Sep 2010 @ 10:59am

It would appear...
That Mr. Issa represents California District 49, which includes Oceanside, where I am a resident.

I have a vote. and you have my interest, sir. I will be watching you...
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- bob, 17 Sep 2010 @ 11:58am
  
  Re: It would appear...
  Oh man I just thought of Aberto's on the corner of N Redondo and Vandegrift Blvd. now I want one of them Carne Asada Burritos with guacamole. Oh yum.
  
  Oh and I like Darrell Issa too.
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Pickle Monger (profile), 17 Sep 2010 @ 11:27am

Beware what you wish for...
Considering how little sense Darrell Issa makes the rest of the time, this will probably cause more harm than good...
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Kaden (profile), 17 Sep 2010 @ 12:13pm

I think it's a coded message to Big Content...
It's like he's tossing out chum to attract campaign contributions in exchange for refreshing his viewpoints on the subject.
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