Dear Ms. Gilleland :
Thank you for contacting me regarding S. 256, the "Platform Equality and Remedies for Rights Holders in Music (PERFORM) Act of 2007." I appreciate hearing from you.
While I certainly understand your position and share your interest in technological innovation and the future of the Internet, I believe we in Congress have the duty t o promote an environment that respects and protects intellectual property rights.
As you may be aware, cable, satellite, and Internet radio services are granted a license to broadcast music as long as they pay a legislatively determined fee and abide by the terms and conditions of the government license. However, some of the terms of these licenses are different. This bill is designed to create parity among the technologies so they may compete on the same playing field to provide consumers their choice of music, anytime, in any place, in any format.
Certain features of new devices and technologies bypass the marketplace by allowing consumers to turn broadcasts into downloads, and creating an unlicensed music library without adequately paying the artist. You can be sure that I will keep your views in mind should this bill come before the Senate.
Yeah? I'm so sure he will. Really sounds like it. Uh-huh. Why can't I play the music I paid for in I-tunes on my Sansa you old fart? WHY? No more I-tunes for me, and no more old farts either!
