June 18, 2003
Politics: Orrin Hatch is part of the...
Politics: Orrin Hatch is part of the problem
So Orrin Hatch (R-Disney) thinks it's worth considering letting copyright owners launch attacks on computers they believe are holding their content. This, folks, is the chair of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. One would hope that he at one time had a knowledge of due process. Apparently he has been influenced to forget it. He joins the rogue's galley of Fritz Hollings (D-Disney) and Howard Berman (D-Disney) as one who is willing to dispense with our rights of speech, innovation and process in order to protect Big Media's market position. It seems that they are equal opportunity employers, and have now cut the R's in on the action.
It's arguable whether the current system of copyright has reached its expired-by date in terms of economic utility. However, it's now evident that the economic power it has allowed to accumulate has become antagonistic to the remaining integrity of our political system, and our rights and liberties. It's going to be difficult to make this into a partisan issue with portions of both parties already suborned.
Our own reply must be in the marketplace: crash the economics of Big Media, and they will be able to buy less influence to be used against us. I am boycotting the music labels, from CDs all the way to iTunes. Please join me, it's a matter of all our freedom. Yes, I'm aware the problem goes further than that. Perhaps wrecking one segment of the industry will encourage the others to remember that they exist to serve their customers, not to throttle their liberties. [Due Diligence]