[FC-discuss] Nashville COPYFIGHT (more help needed!)

[Chris Molinski]

[http://copy-shop.org/knoxville/archives/74]
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Dear Free Culture,

Our copyfight in Nashville made a difference!
They have delayed the vote a week to "talk" to people and reconsider ...
We have a chance to stop this!

Thank you for any help you can give,

Chris Molinski
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COPYSHOP, Knoxville


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Here's the plan:

[1] Meet up with us next Wednesday (March 5th) to go to Nashville and
protest! (5:00 AM - March 5th) we will have a bus - we will leave at
5AM in Knoxville (meet at COPYSHOP).

Gather at 8AM (if you can get there by yourself)
on the corner of 6th and Union St in Nashville!

[2] NOW Email the Senators:
sen.tim.burchett at legislature.state.tn.us
sen.jamie.woodson at legislature.state.tn.us
sen.rusty.crowe at legislature.state.tn.us

Subject: Objection to Bill SB3974 (no copyright law!)

Body: Senator,

I am concerned about an upcoming Bill: SB3974/HB3915

I understand that this Bill is up for your consideration, and that it
"requires institutions of higher education to develop a policy
prohibiting copyright infringement by persons using the school's
computer and network resources and take certain steps to prevent such
infringement. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7″

It is remarkable that a proposal such as this one would move forward.
The proposal degrades our institutions and prevents the greatest
purpose of higher learning: the honest and unregulated exchange of
knowledge. To demand that any College or University police the
exchange of information among its students is shameful.

I understand that this Bill may be directed at the exchange of pirated
"entertainment" (movies, music, etc.) but it has much broader
implications. By enacting a Law such as this one you enforce a
strange, abusive system and limit the possibilities for new advances
in learning.

The RIAA would like to blame "file sharing" for its financial
problems, but studies have shown that "file sharing" has little effect
on record sales.  In fact, some academic studies suggest that "file
sharing" has boosted record sales
(http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2004/04.15/09-filesharing.html).

I strongly encourage you to reconsider this Bill.  It is not one that
works in our interest.

Sincerely,
―――

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Also see:

"MPAA makes gift of Matthew McConaughey to Sen. Tim Burchett"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3qnDVspCqU

When we were at the hearing today we got video of Sen. Tim Burchett
presenting the Bill. In this clip Sen. Tim Burchett jokes about the
MPAA lobby, saying they have promised to cast Matthew Mcconaughey in a
biopic about his life.

To see the Bill go to:
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB3974.pdf

Thank you Gavin Baker and Janet Hawtin for bringing this issue to our attention!