Forwarding, in case anyone is interested in taking action.
On Tue, Oct 9, 2018 at 10:44 PM Katharine Trendacosta | EFF Activism Team < [email protected]> wrote: > This is a friendly message from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. > <https://supporters.eff.org/civicrm/mailing/view?reset=1&id=9367> > > > > Copyright has a huge effect on our daily lives, often controlling access > to movies, books, music, and art. That in turn has an effect on our digital > devices, which display, play, and help create copyrighted material > constantly. Copyright is also inextricable from free speech, as it can be > used as a tool to silence criticism. It’s important that the person in > charge of the Copyright Office be apolitical. > > > > Congress is considering a bill—the Register of Copyrights Selection and > Accountability Act—which would make the Register of Copyrights a > presidential appointee. In August, proponents of the bill stated in a > hearing that this is a good idea because the process of a presidential > nomination and confirmation is more neutral and fair then hiring a > long-serving public servant for the job. > > > > This isn’t true. An appointee will be more beholden to the political > beliefs of the President, not less. And who is appointed by the President > is more easily influenced by big media and entertainment companies who view > copyright as being all about their rights to own things and not our rights > to speech, create, or use our devices. The Copyright Office, if deployed to > carry out a political agenda, can do great harm to how we use the Internet > today. > > > > While this bill has already passed the House, the Senate has not voted on > it yet. In fact, it’s still in committee. We can stop it now. Tell your > Senators to not make the Register of Copyrights a presidential pawn. Tell > them to vote "no > <https://act.eff.org/action/tell-congress-not-to-make-the-register-of-copyrights-a-presidential-pawn>" > on the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act. > > > > [image: Take Action] > Stand up for free speech online > <https://act.eff.org/action/tell-congress-not-to-make-the-register-of-copyrights-a-presidential-pawn> > > Thank you, > > Katharine Trendacosta > Activism Team > Electronic Frontier Foundation > > Support our work to defend free speech and innovation > <https://supporters.eff.org/donate/thanks-for-speaking-up-about-the-copyright-register> > About EFF > > The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading organization protecting > civil liberties in the digital world. Founded in 1990, we defend free > speech online, fight illegal surveillance, promote the rights of digital > innovators, and work to ensure that the rights and freedoms we enjoy are > enhanced, rather than eroded, as our use of technology grows. EFF is a > member-supported organization. Find out more at https://eff.org. > Activism | Impact Litigation | Technology > > This newsletter is printed from 100% recycled electrons. > 815 Eddy Street, San Francisco, CA 94104 United States > EFF appreciates your support and respects your *privacy* > <http://www.eff.org/policy>. > > > > > -- *Amalyah Keshet* _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: [email protected] To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://mcn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
