Induce Act Draws Support, Venom

In today's Wired News, a story I filed on the state of the Induce Act, with comment from a number of groups opposed to its passage.

Until recently, much of the discussion among tech enthusiasts about a controversial anti-piracy bill known as the Induce Act has focused on the proposed law's improbability. Put forth by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), the bill has been ridiculed by techies as so poorly written that it could unintentionally ban an infinite range of everyday tools -- iPods, DVD burners, even paper and pencil.

But since its introduction, nine co-sponsors have signed on, both Democrats and Republicans. And significantly, that list of co-sponsors includes two of Congress' most influential members: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota).

Also known as the Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act (SB2560), the bill would punish tech companies and consumer electronics makers who develop tools that could "induce" or encourage users to make unauthorized copies of copyright material such as music, movies or software. With the present congressional session due to end in October, time for debate is running out. The coming two weeks may be the last chance for both proponents and opponents of the bill to make their voices heard.

Link to Wired News story.

Update: Opposition to the Induce Act is coming from many points along the political spectrum, from left to right. Heritage Foundation senior writer Andrew Grossman says with tongue planted in cheek: "You might be interested to know that '...even the arch-conservative Heritage Foundation has concerns.' (...) We have no position on the bill itself, of course, but we do think it's bad policy." Here's their study and statement regarding P2P, filesharing, and the Induce Act. Link