Copyright Law

Interesting article on "Copyfight" about RIAA takeover of US Department of Justice

By Ty Rogers and Ray Beckerman

Interesting article on Copyfight about the RIAA takeover of the US Department of Justice:

RIAA Takes Over DOJ

Posted by Alan Wexelblat

OK, enough with the funny stuff. The new Obama administration is shaping up to be a disaster for Copyfighters everywhere. In particular the new Department of Justice is stacked with lawyers who've been on the wrong side of copyright and intellectual property lawsuits for the last eight years.

First off, there's the #3 man at Justice, Thomas Perrelli, accurately described by CNET as "beloved by the RIAA". Not only has this guy been on the wrong side in the courtroom, he's fingered as instrumental in convincing the Copyright Board to strangle Web radio in its crib by imposing impossible fee structures.

Then there's Neil MacBride, who used to be the Business Software Alliance's general counsel....

Then there's the #2 man, currently slated to be David Ogden. If that name only rings a faint bell it's because you have to cast your mind back to Eldred v Ashcroft, the argument on whether retroactive copyright term extensions were legal.....

The capper on this line-up of suspicious characters is Donald Verrilli, now up for Associate Deputy Attorney General. This specimen of legal acumen is front and center in the Cartel's jihad, having appeared for Viacom when it sued YouTube, for the RIAA against Jammie Thomas, single mother.....

Commentary & discussion:

Ars Technica

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Full post as published by Recording Industry vs The People on February 06, 2009 (boomark / email).