WASHINGTON — The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the digital rights group which closely monitors changes in legislation regarding freedom of speech and expression online, has called the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act), now making its way through Congress, “disastrous” and is asking for people to continue lobbying against it.
The House just voted in favor of the CASE Act 410-6, with 16 members not voting, giving bipartisan endorsement to this new legislation and sending it to the Senate.
Supposedly benefiting small businesses and individual creators, the CASE Act could directly affect the relationship between studios, producers, clip-makers and tube sites in unexpected and unprecedented ways for current copyright enforcement practices in the adult industry.
The CASE Act, the EFF explained, “creates a new body in the Copyright Office which will receive copyright complaints, notify the person being sued, and then decide if money is owed and how much. This new Copyright Claims Board will be able to fine people up to $30,000 per proceeding.”
According to the EFF, if an individual “gets one of these notices (maybe an email, maybe a letter — the law actually does not specify) and accidentally ignore it, you’re on the hook for the money with a very limited ability to appeal. $30,000 could bankrupt or otherwise ruin the lives of many Americans.”
“The CASE Act also has bad changes to copyright rules, would let sophisticated bad actors get away with trolling and infringement, and might even be unconstitutional,” says the digital rights foundation. “It fails to help the artists it’s supposed to serve and will put a lot of people at risk. Even though the House has passed the CASE Act, we can still stop it in the Senate. Tell your Senators to vote ‘no’ on the CASE Act.”
For the EFF post, “It’s Not Too Late: The Senate Can Still Stop the CASE Act,” click here.
