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NEWS RELEASE
November 13, 2003
CONTACT: David Fish
(202) 289-8928
   

TOMORROW: Broadcast Flag & Copyright
Experts to Discuss Hot-Button Issues at Congressional Briefing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With copyright protection and the so-called broadcast flag near the top of Washington’s digital policy agenda, a diverse panel of experts meets tomorrow to discuss both topics. The latest Progress & Freedom Foundation Congressional Seminar will feature the chair of the FCC’s Digital Television Task Force and other panelists on November 14, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., in Longworth House Office Building, Room 1539.

Participants include: Rick Chessen, associate chief, Federal Communications Commission’s Media Bureau and chair of the FCC’s Digital Television Task Force; Mike Godwin, senior technology counsel at Public Knowledge; Fritz Attaway, executive vice president and Washington general counsel, Motion Picture Association of America and Robert D. Atkinson, VP, the Progressive Policy Institute. William F. Adkinson, Jr., senior policy counsel at The Progress & Freedom Foundation, will moderate.

Millions of people illegally copy files over the Internet; content owners have responded with lawsuits against “file-sharing” systems and their users. The main alternative to copyright liability is the adoption of technological protection mechanisms. Last week, in a major rulemaking, the FCC ordered that, starting with the 2005 product cycle, all digital televisions and related equipment recognize and comply with the “broadcast flag” – a digital code to limit redistribution of over-the-air broadcasts.

The PFF seminar will help answer important policy questions: What mix of available protection mechanisms for IP enforcement will best serve content producers and consumers? Is the broadcast flag needed to ensure that rich digital content will be made available for over-the-air broadcasts? Are there superior alternatives?

Those interested in attending should register by contacting Andrea Knutsen at 202-289-8928 or aknutsen@pff.org. Lunch will be served.

The Progress & Freedom Foundation is a market-oriented think tank that studies the digital revolution and its implications for public policy. It is a 501(c)(3) research & educational organization.

 

 

The Progress & Freedom Foundation