A Cabinet-Level Intellectual Property Protection Czar
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 by Harry LewisPresident Bush has signed a law creating a high-level position to centralize intellectual property protection efforts. As we explain in Chapters 6 and 8 of Blown to Bits, the entertainment industries have enormous influence in Washington, far greater than the forces of information freedom. This is truly over the top — it is a position to do what the attacks on innocent teenagers has failed to do. Story here (with a good cartoon) and here (with clearer reporting).
A dark day for those of us who were hoping for a more enlightened view of the balance between society’s interest in information liberty and creators’ interest in making a profit. Still, a lot depends on who appoints the new czar, and apparently it won’t be Bush.