The INDUCE Act is being cosponsored by one of my senators, Barabara Boxer. In a discussion with several folks who had been active in the Dean campaign, and are who are universally supporting Boxer against her right wing republican challenger, Boxer's active support of INDUCE was brought up by a friend (Steve Ogden, for whom I am an alternate on the San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee). The email is archived here.
Here's the highlights:
"I will say right here that if the Democratic party wants to engage the
next generation of voters, they've got to start recognizing what matters
to younger voters. The continuing erosion of the commons through the
undermining of the rights of fair use are visible to young people.The INDUCE act is much like the PATRIOT act - an overbroad reaction to
hysteria whipped up by powerful stakeholders (in the case of INDUCE its
the RIAA and fellow content industry powerhouses) who claim a legitimate-
sounding need while really hoping to gain greatly expanded powers over an
unwitting populace.INDUCE's attempt to react to the abuse are so overreaching as to be
absurd. And, just like PATRIOT, INDUCE will be used against those who
aren't the "stated" targets: technologically savvy experimenters who
challenge the status quo in the market for the distribution of
entertainment and other digital content.In large numbers, the folks paying attention to this attack on innovation
will be young people. They're going to see their favorite technologies
made criminal by laws supported by both political parties. They are going
to see this as part of a bigger trend of corporate manipulation of policy
through ownership of the political parties by wealthy and powerful
organizations like the content industries. The truth may be more
complicated, but laws like INDUCE really do give credence to that
argument.What a shame. What a great way to turn off a generation of voters.
Steve should be speaking up, and if you think its just a special interest
"
issue, then look again. No, its not an issue that appeals to everyone -
but then again, how many 18-24 year olds care about medicare or social
security?
