A new Senate bill (S. 2560 – “The INDUCE Act”) would make businesses liable for customers who use their product to make unauthorized copies. Legal experts say this bill would give the big record companies grounds to sue Apple for selling the Apple iPod. People need to act right now to save the iPod:www.savetheipod.com
Folks will be on the ground at WWDC in San Francisco passing out “Save the iPod” stickers. But we need your help. At savetheipod.com you can fax your senator, and send op-ed letters to local papers. Do it now!
Apple computer gave the major record labels the iTunes Music Store, quite possibly their best chance for survival on the internet. You’d think they would be grateful. But now the major labels, along with Hollywood, are pushing for legislation that would give them the power to bully hardware manufacturers and software designers. The major labels say the law is aimed at p2p companies, but the legal language they’re pushing is much broader than that.
The labels have not promised that they won’t sue hardware manufacturers. Two decades ago, Hollywood sued Sony for making the Betamax VCR, and the INDUCE Act would make lawsuits like that possible again. This threat needs to be taken seriously.
For legal information on how this new bill threatens Apple and the iPod see the EFF’s legal analysis
Savetheipod.com is a collaboration between Downhill Battle, Click the Vote, and freeculture.org.
