FITUG e.V. Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft

The Mouse blasting privacy

http://www.variety.com/body.asp?HbkId=1892220&subcat=-1&ArticleId=1117782380

Updated: 6/8/00 MOUSE BLASTING PIRACY By JILL GOLDSMITH

As lawsuits fly regarding music piracy on the Internet, Walt Disney Co. topper Michael Eisner told lawmakers Wednesday that online copyright infringement damages more than the entertainment industry's bottom line, putting the U.S. Constitution and the nation's balance of trade at risk as well.

Reinforcing his role as an outspoken crusader against 'Net piracy, Eisner brought his message to the Joint Economic Committee and then addressed more than 100 members of Congress on behalf of the Congressional Internet Caucus and the House-Senate judiciary committees. Eisner noted that copyright-related industries, including movies, TV, homevideo, music, publishing and computer software, contribute more than $530 billion to the U.S. economy -- with foreign sales a big chunk of that. Messing with copyrights spells trouble all around.

"The Internet can only achieve its full potential if it is governed by a regard for property rights as grounded in the United States Constitution," he said. If not, "the development of the Internet will stall and we will risk undermining one of the most positive contributors to our nation's balance of payments."

Eisner said the showbiz sector must urgently create watermarkings and other security measures to protect copyrights and asked Congress to consider legislation that would force computer makers and Internet companies to implement the necessary safeguards.

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