The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has information on their site about HR 1201, a.k.a. The Fair Use Act, currently working its way through the U.S. House of Representatives, that would strengthen the fair use concepts that have been in existence for decades for videocassette recordings, and apply them to other media.
The primary benefit would be that makers of electronic equipment able to store digital information (computers, flash drives, mp3 players, etc.) would enjoy the same understandings as vcr manufacturers when it comes to the use of their products: the user is responsible for making sure they respect copyright law.
When a device can be used in a legal manner, it is not fair to punish those who create it when others use it in an illegal manner.
from ©ollectanea
