Zoe Lofgren: “today I introduced the Digital Choice and Freedom Act of 2002. Copyright laws have always sought to strike a fair…”

“today I introduced the Digital Choice and Freedom Act of 2002. Copyright laws have always sought to strike a fair balance between copyright holders and society. Copyright protection encourages and rewards authors; but, as the Supreme Court stated in Twentieth Century Music Corp. versus Aiken, ``Private motivation must ultimately serve the cause of promoting broad public availability. . . .'' To maintain the balance in the digital age, we must find ways to prevent digital pirates without treating every consumer as one. Yes, digital allows perfect copies to be distributed over the Internet, but digital technology also lets copyright holders control how consumers enjoy the books, music, and movies they buy. Online publishers do not just set the price, they can control where, when and for how long buyers use and enjoy what they bought, contrary to the intent of Congress and the DMCA. My bill restores the balance by letting buyers enjoy what they bought in their home, car, or in mobile devices. The bill also helps copyright holders by promoting digital alternatives that are affordable, reliable, secure, and respectful of consumers. Providing room for technological innovation will also spur economic growth and lead to more jobs.”