| You
are hereby invited. |
The
networked computer has thrown copyright into crisis,
but the defense of copyright threatens the networked computer.
Because the computer is a universal copying machine and
because the networked computer can transmit copies across
the global network, the networked computer threatens to
render copyright a dead letter. But, copyright is fundamental
to the media ecology of the modern world: the legal protections
of copyright have justified the investments of time, energy,
and money necessary for the invention and institution
of the feature film, radio, television, and the networked
computer. However, if, following the injunctions of the
big media companies, the networked computer's software
and hardware is restructured to protect copyright, the
computer could lose its virtues as a technology of inscription,
and the Internet could lose its valuably open character.
For example, a user could find it impossible to invoke
simple computer commands like "save, save as, cut,
copy and paste and reveal source code;” it could
become impossible to remix content or make it available
to other users on the network. At the same time, purchasers
of copyrighted content could lose customary rights enjoyed
in an analog medium (like the printed book): to reread,
lend, and resell; to make archival copies; to exercise
fair use for the purposes of teaching, criticism, parody,
and art.
The
battle about the future of copyright and the networked
computer has been joined, but, so far, only the largest
economic stakeholders have had an effective voice. Large
media companies have proposed legal measures to change
the networked computer so as to protect their copyrights
(e.g. the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's anti-de-encryption
provision; the Hollings Bill draconian controls on all
digital devices); hardware and software companies have
resisted those measures that would foreclose on the future
of the networked computer (e.g. the temporary set back
to the Hollings Bill). Media and software companies are
legitimate stakeholders and should be part of this debate,
but so should others. Too often negotiations about US
copyright law proceed as if we can ignore the interest
and influence of the global network of computer users.
The
Stakeholders' Congress hopes to inflect current debates
in three ways: |
First, by broadening participation in this debate
to include artists, scholars of the humanities and social
sciences, legal scholars, open source and free software
activists, librarians and museum directors, computer scientists,
members of the US Congress, as well as representatives
from media and software companies.
Second, by outlining a set of general principles to
guide policy on copyright and the networked computer.
Third, by offering specific and innovative solutions
to the crisis around copyright and the networked computer.
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| Organization: |
In
order to open and develop these issues, we have assembled
a diverse group of speakers with specialized knowledge and
unique perspectives on this issue. We hope that all participants
will plan to stay for the full event. In shaping the Stakeholders'
Congress, we are encouraging nuanced position statements
over ranting or visionary generalities. Speakers have been
encouraged to present specific technical and legal solutions
to the impasse on copyright. |
| Sponsors: |
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| Contact: |
William Warner,
Director of The Digital Cultures Project @ warner@english.ucsb.edu |
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Plenary
Speakers:
James Boyle
Duke Law School
Randall Davis
Computer Science
MIT
Ed Felten
Computer Science,
Princeton
Peter Jaszi
American U
Speakers Include:
Alex Alben
Congressional
Candidate
Hillary Brill
Counsel to
Rep. Boucher
Jim Burger
Dow, Lohnes,
and Albertson
Shu Lea Cheang
Artist, Kingdom
of Piracy
Ian Clarke
Freenet
Julie Cohen
Georgetown
Law
Jenny Cool
Artist / Ethnographic
Filmmaker
Jon Cruz
UC Santa Barbara
Sarah Deutsch
Verizon
Alec French
Minority Counsel,
House
Judiciary
Committee
Laura Gasaway
UNC Law Library
David L. Green
Former ED
of NINCH
Mark Hosler
founding member
of
Negativland
Barry Kernfeld
Independent
Scholar
Jessica Litman
Wayne State
U Law School
Carrie McLaren
Stay Free!
J. Hillis Miller
UC Irvine
Nick Montfort
U Penn
Robert Nideffer
UC Irvine
Rina Pantalony
Canadian Heritage
Information
Network
Mark Poster
UC Irvine
Laurie Racine
Center for
the Public Domain
Norman Lear Center
Mark Rose
UC Santa Barbara
Wendy Seltzer
Electronic
Freedom
Foundation
Clifford Siskin
Columbia U
Gigi Sohn
Public Knowledge
Francis Steen
UC Los Angeles
Jennifer Urban
Samuelson
Law Clinic
UC Berkeley
Siva Vaidhyanathan
NYU, Communication
Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Electronic
Literature Org.
William Warner
UC Santa Barbara
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