[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 115 (Monday, September 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1583-E1584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE MUSIC OWNERS' LISTENING RIGHTS ACT OF 2000

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                           HON. RICK BOUCHER

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 25, 2000

  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues, 
Representatives Burr, LaHood and Upton, in the introduction of 
legislation to reform our copyright laws so that individual consumers 
can store their own music on an Internet site and gain quick access to 
it anytime they choose, from anywhere they choose.
  The introduction of this legislation is a necessary step in 
addressing the growing chasm between new technology and old laws. It is 
a matter of high importance to Internet users. A new poll found that 79 
percent of frequent Internet users believe that ``copyright laws should 
not infringe on an individual's access to the music that they have 
legally purchased.'' Our legislation will ensure that this wholly 
legitimate public expectation is not thwarted.
  Those same Internet users understand the responsibility that 
consumers have to pay legitimate royalties to the artists whose music 
they enjoy. Approximately the same majority of those surveyed (78 
percent) said that the sharing and swapping of music which has not been 
purchased or without the consent of the artist or record company should 
not be permitted.
  Our legislation, the Music Owners' Listening Rights Act of 2000, 
makes the Internet based transmission of a personal interactive 
performance (PIP) of a sound recording acceptable under copyright law. 
Simply stated, a consumer who lawfully owns a work of music, such as a 
CD, will be able to store it on the Internet and then downstream it for 
personal use at a time and place of his choosing.
  This technology makes it possible for people to travel from one place 
to another without needing to carry their record collection with them. 
Instead, they will be able to turn on a computer or other Internet 
connection device and gain immediate access to their music through the 
services of an Internet music provider. After the consumer shows proof 
of ownership of the music, he will be able to listen to it streamed to 
him over the Internet from any place that he has Internet access. 
Consumers would not be able to transfer music to someone else or use 
the music for commercial purposes under the provisions of our 
legislation.
  Since the only people who will be able to use the provision we are 
proposing have already purchased the music, the song writers, recording 
artists and record labels will lose not a penny in sales. The person 
who purchases music will, however, have a new opportunity to listen to 
his music from any place that he has Internet access.

[[Page E1584]]

  The new Internet application that enables purchasers to listen to 
their music from a variety of locations is a major advance. It offers 
greater mobility and convenience to those who purchase music while not 
depriving music creators of sales. We believe that the technology which 
gives rise to this new convenience should be encouraged, and our 
legislation will remove legacy copyright restrictions which were 
written for a different era and that threaten to strangle the 
technology in its infancy.
  It is our hope that other Members of the House will join us in 
recognizing the significant opportunities this new generation of 
technology holds and in recognizing the tremendous new consumer 
convenience this new Internet application makes possible.
  The co-sponsorship of our measure by other Members is welcome.

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