A coalition of technology company heavyweights and consumer groups
have called for the US government to stay away from mandating
anti-copying schemes on computers.
The Alliance for Digital Progress (ADP), a lobbying group made up
of 27 technology companies, consumer groups and think tanks, was
set up in a response to calls from the Motion Picture Association
of America for copy protection measures from the US Congress.
Among the members of ADP are technology companies Microsoft, Dell
Computer, Hewlett-Packard and Apple Computer; and consumer groups
Consumer Alert, DigitalConsumer.org, and 60 Plus Association.
ADP president Frederick McClure said the ADP would fight government
copy-protection mandates, but he endorsed private-sector methods of
solving what he called a "problem with digital piracy".
"We oppose efforts by Hollywood to use the government to design
anti-copying technology and require all digital devices to be built
using that technology," said McClure, a former legislative advisor.
"But make no mistake, the organisations here today also are
committed to protecting digital content."
On 14 January, the Recording Industry of America joined two major
technology associations in also calling for Congress to stay away
from copy-protection mandates. The Business Software Alliance and
the Computer Systems Policy Project are also part of the Alliance
for Digital Progress.
It was made clear the coalition would target any reintroduction of
the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act, which
mandated copy-control technology on all digital devices.
"It is clear to us there is no easy answer, there is no
one-size-fits-all solution," McClure said. "Yet, that is exactly
what Hollywood is asking Congress to do. They're asking lawmakers
to design a technology solution to the problem, and then force
companies to use that technology in every one of their
products."
McClure argues that private companies could create better copy
protection than the government, and he used the example of the DVD
as a fast growing product that came from consumer demand and
partnerships between the technology and entertainment industries.