CEA APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF REP. LOFGREN'S DIGITAL MEDIA FAIR-USE RIGHTS BILL

Washington, D.C., October 2, 2002 - Praising Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) today for introducing the "Digital Choice and Freedom Act," the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) said the legislation is an important step forward in preserving consumers' fair use rights in a digital world.
"All Americans enjoying digital media today should join us in recognizing Representative Lofgren for her pro-consumer legislation," said Gary Shapiro. "Somewhere along the line Hollywood's spin campaign managed to obscure the fact that sharing and stealing are not one in the same. Representative Lofgren's bill brings the debate back to reality by accurately defining and addressing the critical balance between fair use rights and copyright in the digital age. First and foremost Rep. Lofgren recognizes that the balance between consumer and content owner rights does not need to change as technology transitions from analog to digital. Consumers enjoying the authorized, non-commercial use of property are not criminals - no matter what format the technology takes. A crime is a crime, personal use is fair use and home recording rights in the analog world should seamlessly carry over to the digital world."
The Lofgren legislation would add to the rights of consumers and other legitimate users as to programs they acquire via CD, DVD, on-line and digital media means and would amend the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to allow consumers, libraries, educators, archivists, and others using fair use rights to acquire the technology necessary to exercise those rights.