Dear Friend of IPac,

My name is Jake Fisher, and I want to take this opportunity to
introduce myself. I recently joined IPac as Executive Director -- our
first full-time position -- and I am excited to be part of the fight
against the Hollywood Cartels and the politicians who do their
bidding. For too long, an innovation tax has been imposed by
legislators eager to please corporate contributors at the expense of
their constituents.

Our goal is to put balanced information policy on the political
landscape by working with private citizens and public figures who
understand the importance of innovation, freedom of expression, and
the democratizing power of new technology. We have an uphill climb
ahead of us; in the 2004 election cycle more than $5 million was given
out by corporate media PACs.

As you know, $5 million buys a lot of legislative clout. In the last
decade, nearly all of the legislation on information policy -- the
DMCA, the broadcast flag, and the INDUCE Act, for example -- has
favored corporate content holders at the expense of the public.
Organized efforts have stalled or killed much of this legislation, but
we need to take the next step and ensure that legislators who
understand the importance of these issues are given all the support
that they need and legislators who carve out new laws for their
buddies are opposed at every turn. While $5 million buys a lot of
access, the good news is that competing isn't out of our reach. Just
1,000 people giving $5,000 (the legal maximum per year to a PAC) would
give us parity - or 10,000 people giving $500. Plus, with truth on our
side, we have an easier job.

We're also about to send 13 iPods loaded with Creative
Commons-licensed and public domain material to Senate reelection
campaigns. We've already picked recipients for 12 of these free
culture care packages, but we'd like your help with the last one. In
your opinion, which Senator is most in need of a hands-on course about
technology, copyright, and innovation? Send a few sentences to
info@ipaction.org, and we'll send the 13th iPod to the Senator who
gets the most convincing pitch.

I look forward to working with you to build strong political movement.
If you have signed our statement of principles, now is a great time to
make a financial contribution. If you have already contributed, I want
to thank you for your continued support. Every dollar matters, and
we'll be putting each one to good use in this important fight.

Sincerely,

Jake Fisher

Executive Director

Wednesday, March 15

IPac Hires Executive Director

IPac is exceedingly pleased to announce that Jake Fisher has been hired as Executive Director. "I am proud to welcome Jake to our team. His years of political and technological experience will ensure that IPac continues to act as a counterbalance to the control media conglomerates have over the electoral process," said Founder and President David Alpert.

http://ipaction.org/

"In your opinion, which Senator is most in need of a hands-on course about
technology, copyright, and innovation?"


I would Say Horrin Hash and Diane Feinsintein if they last long enought and this is doubtful at this point. Also they are corrupted to the entertainement industry (and other industries!) so it might not have any effect. They will just give a free iPod to their kids.

You could try: If I give you a free iPod would you vote for this? This is a langage they know. Unfortunatly how many ipod they can buy with $5 millions?

Each Video iPod costs $324.42, and you can buy a whole iPod or chip in a portion of the cost. We'll take care of the rest.

Update, February 10: We're thrilled to announce that Lawrence Lessig, founder of Creative Commons and author of "Free Culture," has agreed to record a special presentation on balanced copyright for our Senate-bound iPods. We've raised enough to buy twelve iPods so far - help us get to 13!

Senators getting iPods

Thanks to your help, we've already raised money to buy iPods for these Senators:
Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Senator Smith is taking the lead in drafting Broadcast Flag legislation which, so far, reflects the MPAA and RIAA wish list of giving them a veto over consumer technology. We're giving Senator Smith an iPod so he understands the value of innovation and consumer choice as he works on his bill.

Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Senator Inouye is the co-Chair and ranking Democrat on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee which is considering the Broadcast Flag legislation. Though he has already expressed support for imposing the regulations, we think getting a iPod like his colleague Senator Stevens will help him understand the importance of innovation and the danger of restricting it.

John Sununu (R-NH)
Senator Sununu spoke up in defense of innovation and against stifling regulations at the recent Broadcast Flag hearing. As an MIT grad and technologist himself, he probably already has an iPod, but we're giving him an engraved one from IPac to show that advocates of balanced copyright policy appreciate his strong stance.

Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Senator Nelson asked good questions at the recent Broadcast Flag hearing, showing an understanding of the importance of protecting fair use and innovation and a healthy skepticism of the FCC. We want to make sure he has a thorough firsthand understanding of what innovative technology can do by owning an iPod.

Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Senator Burns cofounded the Internet Caucus all the way back in 1996, making him one of the earlier members of Congress to start thinking seriously about technology. At the recent hearing, he expressed concern that Broadcast Flag legislation could hamper distance learning, something important in his home state of Montana. An iPod will further grow his knowledge of technology and its importance.

Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Senator Boxer is a member of the Commerce Committee and represents California, a state that leads the nation in technological innovation (including Apple, maker of the iPod) as well as being home to the motion picture industry which is lobbying to restrict that very innovation. We want to make sure she is a regular user of the technology her state produces and which must be protected.

John Ensign (R-NV)
Senator Ensign is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness in the Senate Commerce Committee. As chair, he plays an influential role in legislation affecting technology. He should have an iPod, and now he will.

John Kerry (D-MA)
Senator Kerry is the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness, which considers important legislation that can greatly impact technology for better or for worse. His iPod will help him better understand the imapct of the legislation on consumers.

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
Senator Hutchison sits on the Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness, and is also the chair of the Subcommitee on Science and Space. Her state of Texas is home to many important technology companies. She should have an iPod.

George Allen (R-VA)
Senator Allen sits on the Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness and represents Virginia, where technology companies are a major source of jobs. He should have an iPod.

Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Senator Cantwell is a member of the Commerce Committee and comes from Washington state, home of Microsoft and many technology startup companies. She should have an iPod.

Trent Lott (R-MS)
Senator Lott sits on the Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness, was formerly the Senate Majority Leader, and is a possible candidate for President. He should have an iPod.

======

http://www.ipaction.org/campaigns/ipod/

I was very suprised Hatch wasn't on the list.
He DEFINATELY should be #13

Folks, let's put a few messages together specifically from Boycott-Riaa.

Short 30-60 second rants and such. (About a paragraph or two.)

Post 'em here folks!

compmore, I bet iPac would be interested in getting a few of your movies for this.

OK, here’s my rant:

Digital Rights Management (DRM) unfairly places the burden of solving the "internet piracy" problem on the shoulders of the consumer electronics industry. This industry will be forced to take on the added cost and complexity of hardware DRM schemes which primarily benefit the recording and movie industries. However, these measures won't ultimately stop "internet piracy". All DRM schemes are breakable. To date, DRM has failed to stop the growth of peer-to-peer file-sharing and copying of copyrighted material. In fact, DRM may be encouraging frustrated consumers to turn to unauthorized distribution channels such as file-sharing networks, as consumers discover restrictions on their legally purchased music or video which compromise their fair use rights.

Legislatively-mandated DRM will give Hollywood tremendous control over the consumer electronics industry and the future of content delivery technology, and will impede technological innovation. Presently, lack of interoperability of music formats and portable music players, enforced by proprietary DRM, seriously hinders competition with the iPod. DRM mandates threaten the future of new technologies such as internet radio, high definition video discs, Tivo, and online storage of digital media libraries. Giving the content industry unprecedented authority to dictate new technologies to the content industry is not the solution. Neither is ignoring the need of creative artists to thrive. However, we must have fair compensation of artists without loss of fair user rights, and without stifling future innovation. Market forces must be allowed to adapt to disruptive technologies and resolve the conflicts between copyright law and new technologies.

Ifeelfree --- that is a very good rant. I think it should be included in the "package".

Good job!

That WAS, ver-r-r-y good!

Thanks. One correction:

"Giving the content industry unprecedented authority to dictate new technologies to the content industry is not the solution."

should be:

"Giving the content industry unprecedented authority to dictate new technologies to the consumer electronics industry is not the solution."

Also, it should be "fair use rights" not "fair user rights" in the 2nd-to-last sentence.

This ought to be submitted to Shmoo.

I am planning on recording several of these audio messages for iPac's iPod to the Senators thingy (and for other uses too!) Each message/PSA/rant will be "an official message brought to you by the participants of Boycott-Riaa dot com."

...so KEEP submitting text copy folks!

what a shame we have to "buy" off our legislators like the pigopolist corporations do. Too bad it has come to this.

lol.

Sending a few iPods loaded with information and evidence of OUR position on the agenda to key Senators shouldn't be considered as "buying" them.

...but I wonder if the congress-critters will forced to balk at the illusionary prospect that the iPods/players are to be treated as "gifts" under the rules of "campaign contribution" and/or whatnot.

lol.

hmm...

Now that I seriously think about it,

Maybe I should get ahold of iPac and ask them not to send iPods/players (since it is possible that the player would be somehow be considered as a "gift") ...but send CD's or flash-sticks or something instead?

=============

...holy cow, this stuff can get COMPLICATED sometimes!

lol

(Folks, if you didn't know, IPac is an actual political lobby group, whereas Boycott-Riaa is only a forum/community.)

"Sending a few iPods loaded with information and evidence of OUR position on the agenda to key Senators shouldn't be considered as "buying" them....."

"Sending a few tickets to Tahiti, campaign contributions, sluts, box seats at the stadium, cash gifts and evidence of OUR position on the agenda to key Senators shouldn't be considered as "buying" them. -Your friendly pig pork corporation

I grant you it's an interesting idea, but I think we should stick to letters. If you have to send them ipods, send them ipods with competing DRM music that wont work in them. That might be more effective.

Fobix, let's pass that thought along to IPac too.

Was able to contribute 1/16 of an iPod for now, should be able to do more later. Hopefully IPac will make a dent in the damage done by the *aa's in the past 8 to 10 years. I for one do not want to live in the future as seen by the RIAA...