RIAA, PC Groups Oppose Mandated Copyright Security

NEW YORK— The music industry and two computer-industry trade groups agreed to oppose attempts by the federal government to impose copyright-protection technologies, but they also said they don't want the government to restrict the adoption of copyright-protection technologies that the industries themselves agree to adopt.

In response, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) said it welcomes the industries' "apparent opposition to government mandates," but stated firmly that "legislation is required to strike the necessary balance between protecting copyrights and consumers' fair use rights."

In their announcement, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and two technology trade groups contended that they support "unilateral technical protection measures," and "they agreed that legislation should not limit the effectiveness of such measures." The industries "also expressed support for actions by rights holders that could limit the illegal distribution of copyrighted works in ways that are not destructive to networks or products or that violate consumers' privacy."

The members of the two technology trade groups include Microsoft, Intel, and major computer and software vendors, including Apple, IBM, Dell, Cisco Systems, Novell, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola.

CEA reiterated its support for the Digital Media Consumer Rights Act before Congress (see story at right).

The Motion Picture Association of America reiterated it will still consider government-mandated technology solutions to protect copyrights.