1. General
   1. Are you opposed to copyright protection for digital works?
   2. Do you support illegal copying?
   3. So what's the problem?
   4. Isn't the whole point of copyright to protect the rights of authors?
   5. What are some examples of the balance that used to exist?
   6. What are some examples of this shift in the balance of copyright?
2. Copy Protection
   1. You're joking, right? Of course I can make a copy of a CD or record a TV show!
   2. But how can they stop me from copying a CD?
   3. Can't I always make analog recordings?
   4. Don't we need these "anti-circumvention" laws to protect creative works?
   5. But how do you prevent illegal copying if you allow circumvention technologies?
   6. I don't see what legitimate uses circumvention technology could have. Isn't it just a tool for hackers who want to steal content?
   7. So what can we do about this problem?
3. The DMCA, SSSCA, and CBDTPA
   1. What is the DMCA?
   2. What's wrong with the DMCA?
   3. What is the CBDTPA (formerly known as the SSSCA)?
   4. What's wrong with the CBDTPA?
   5. Don't these new laws already provide exemptions for fair use?
   6. Couldn't we fix things by adding better exemptions to existing laws?
4. The BPDG
   1. What is the BPDG?
   2. How would the BPDG's rules work?
   3. What's wrong with the BPDG?
   4. But doesn't the BPDG represent a consensus?
5. Miscellaneous
   1. Do fair use rights for consumers harm the content industry?
   2. Do fair use rights for consumers harm artists and creators?
   3. Do anti-circumvention copyright laws harm innovation?
   4. But I thought the DMCA had a special exemption for reverse engineering?
   5. Do copyright laws affect libraries?
6. Alliance For Digital Progress
   1. What is the Alliance for Digital Progress?
   2. Why did DigitalConsumer join ADP?
   3. Some members of ADP support copy-protection technology. Has DigitalConsumer sold out?
   4. How will this impact DigitalConsumer's position on fair use?

6. Alliance For Digital Progress

6.1 What is the Alliance for Digital Progress?

The Alliance for Digital Progress (ADP) is a coalition of businesses and consumer groups. ADP's mission is to convince Congress to reject the entertainment industry's call for government-mandated copy-protection technology.

http:/­/­alliancefordigitalprogress.org/­ADP/­content/­?p=MissionStatement/­Principles
"ADP believes that the best ways to meet consumer expectations and fight piracy include market-driven efforts to educate consumers, create digital distribution strategies, develop innovative technology, and enforce existing laws. ADP strongly opposes efforts to make the government design and mandate copy-protection technologies."

6.2 Why did DigitalConsumer join ADP?

We recognize that in order to stop truly egregious legislation like the Hollings Bill (3.4), we need to rally as many groups as possible. The entertainment industry spends millions of dollars trying to erode our fair use rights, so we need to counterbalance their lobbying with a broad coalition.

http:/­/­www.opensecrets.org/­industries/­indus.asp?Ind=B02
The entertainment industry has spent about $20,000,000 per year over the past few years.

6.3 Some members of ADP support copy-protection technology. Has DigitalConsumer sold out?

Definitely not. Some members of the ADP (such as Microsoft) clearly support strong copy-protection that will reduce consumer fair use rights. However, our participation in ADP does not mean that we support such copy-protection schemes. While we oppose Microsoft and other ADP members on fair use issues, we all agree that the worst possible outcome is a government mandate.

By participating in ADP, we can help influence ADP's lobbying efforts to be more favorable to consumer fair use.

6.4 How will this impact DigitalConsumer's position on fair use?

Our participation in ADP will have no impact on our other lobbying efforts. We will continue to fight for affirmative legislation that protects fair use, and we will continue to fight against the abuse of copyright law.