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By Paul Carter
Hatch's Napster Plans
WASHINGTON, DC -- In the wake of the appeals court ruling against the
Internet company Napster, Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has stated
that Napster's loss may be a loss for general music audiences as
well.
The Senator's remarks came in a speech from the Senate floor as he
outlined several issues which will likely have the attention of the
Senate Judiciary Committee this year. As Chairman of the Committee,
his comments last week noted Internet domain name registration,
on-line privacy, copyrights, government involvement in cyberspace,
and free-speech concerns as matters of public interest where
Judiciary Committee hearings may be warranted. It was in regard to
copyright matters that Senator Hatch referred to Napster:
"My feeling about this Ninth Circuit decision is a gnawing concern
that this legal victory for the record labels may prove pyrrhic or
short-sighted from a policy perspective. The Napster community
represents a huge consumer demand for the kind of online music
services Napster, rightly or wrongly, has offered and, to date, the
major record labels have been unable to satisfy."
The ranking Democratic member of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, also weighed in on the Napster
decision with a view differing from Senator Hatch. Senator Leahy
suggested in a statement Tuesday that the ruling against Napster was
a win for both the music industry and consumers:
"While Napster customers may not initially see it that way, the
availability of new music and other creative works -- and its
contributions to the vibrancy of our culture and in fueling our
economy --depends on clearly understood and adequately enforced
copyright protection," said Senator Leahy.
Senator Hatch's remarks did not go unnoticed at Napster. Hank Barry,
Napster's CEO, responded to Hatch's statement by saying, "I have
contacted the RIAA [Recording Industry Association of America] about
how to best work with Sen. Hatch on moving forward toward an
agreement, which we have been seeking for nearly a year. As Senator
Hatch suggested, it is in the public's interest to resolve this
matter in a way that does not shut down the Napster service."
Hatch has publicly supported Napster previously. Napster provides an
Internet site where software can be downloaded. The Napster software
allows a user to search via the Internet for music selections that
reside as files on other computers which are connected to the
Internet. The Napster software can copy the located music files to
the user's computer and can also "publish" any music files of the
user to the Internet for others to locate and retrieve.
Aides to Senator Hatch have stated that the Senator uses Napster. He
is also a published musician and has produced songs on at least two
albums which are downloadable with Napster software. The Senator
expressed the goal of maintaining copyrights for musicians while
somehow allowing consumers to access desired content.
He reflected that, "After all, without artists, there is nothing to
convey, and without the fans, there is no one to convey it to. I
think keeping the focus on the artists and the audience can help the
technologists and the copyright industries find a way for all to
flourish. I hope this opportunity is taken before it is lost."
Sources:
Prominent Senator Reveals Internet Agenda
Newsfactor.com 15Feb01 T2
By John L. Micek: NewsFactor Network
NEWS ANALYSIS: Internet Music Will Still Play On Despite Napster's Uncertain Future
San Francisco Chronicle 18Feb01 T2
By Benny Evangelista, Chronicle Staff Writer
Utah Senator Wants Hearing On Napster Case
San Francisco Chronicle 15Feb01 T2
By Benny Evangelista, Chronicle Staff Writer
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