Congress Posts Critical Copyright Report . . . Then It Vanishes
jonathanturley
We have repeatedly discussed the absurdity of U.S. copyright laws and how law firms have become virtual thug patrols threatening average citizens with ruin over small copyright violations. President Obama has been repeatedly criticized for being in the pocket of “copyright hawks” and lobbyists who have used the Administration to increase the penalties and scope of these laws. The Congress has also been a virtual extension of industry groups and lobbyists in the area. For that reason, many people were shocked when Rep. Jim Jordan published a critical report entitled RSC Policy Brief: Three Myths about Copyright Law and Where to Start to Fix it.” It was a strong condemnation of how these laws are not stifling creativity and various industries. It was the first such report anyone could remember that was not written by lobbyists for draconian copyright laws. Then it was gone. Gone. According to various sites, the eight page document was removed from the website. Some sites opined that the various industry groups saw it and quashed it — but not before some sites like the one below copied it.
If it is true that lobbyists stomped on the document, it is a remarkable public demonstration (again) of the control exercised over Congress, which made the mistake of speaking without industry approval.
By the way, the first myth is “The purpose of copyright is to compensate the creator of the content.”
Here is the report on one site where it has not mysteriously disappeared.
