Controversial changes to copyright law that threaten Internet users ARE INCLUDED in the final text of the must-pass spending package Congress is voting on today.
John,
We just got word that the controversial changes to copyright law that threaten Internet users with huge fines ARE INCLUDED in the final text of the must-pass spending package Congress is voting on today.1
House and Senate lawmakers will vote today on an omnibus bill that contains three problematic provisions: the Felony Streaming Act, the CASE Act, and The Trademark Modernization Act. These changes could threaten ordinary Internet users with up to $30,000 in fines for everyday online activity like downloading an image or sharing a meme.2
Copyright laws in the United States are already a mess. Streamers on platforms like YouTube and Twitch are constantly dealing with abusive DMCA takedowns and account bans, while independent musicians who are out of work due to the pandemic get paid next to nothing by companies like Spotify.3
But instead of working to fix these problems and create a system that’s fair for everyone, politicians who are paid off by giant corporations like Disney and Comcast are trying to make things worse.
Senator Tom Tillis (R-NC) has taken more money than almost anyone else in Congress from the same industries that lobbied for censorship bills like SOPA/PIPA.4 And now that he’s been re-elected he’s made it clear that he intends to overhaul copyright law and push for even more draconian enforcement measures to please his corporate donors.
But there’s still hope. We know leaders in Congress are getting nervous about the fact that Internet users from across the political spectrum are outraged by the decision to include these controversial provisions in a COVID relief bill.
So we’re raising funds to launch a rapid-response campaign so we can hit the ground running as soon as Congress returns after the holidays and demand that they pass legislation to fix the broken parts of copyright law and protect online free speech and the rights of creators and Internet users alike.
We know many people are struggling right now, so if you’re not able to chip in, don’t worry about it. We’ll follow up soon with other ways to take action.
Sent via ActionNetwork.org.
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