] A conservative Republican lawmaker is expected to
] announce a bill next week that would dramatically scale
] back the ability of record labels, movie studios and
] others to use anticopying technology, according to a
] source familiar with the proposal.

Sen. Sam Brownback, Kansas Republican.

] If the Brownback proposal were enacted, the Federal Trade
] Commission would have the power to ban DRM systems that
] limit a consumer's right to resell any "digital media
] product," a category that includes everything from
] computer software and e-books to copy-protected CDs and
] movies. It also says that companies selling such products
] must offer "clear and conspicuous notice or a label on
] the product" indicating the presence of anticopying
] techology that follows FTC regulations, starting one year
] after the law's enactment, unless the FTC determines that
] industry groups have created reasonable "voluntary"
] guidelines of their own.

] • Says the Federal Communications Commission may not
] force companies that create or sell PCs or digital video
] products to include specific copy-protection technology
] in them.
]
] • Requires the FTC to create an advisory committee to
] describe "the ways in which access control technology
] and redistribution control technology may affect consumer,
] educational institution and library use of digital media
] products based on their legal and customary uses of such
] products."
]
] • Says the FTC must prepare a report two years after the
] bill is enacted into law. The report would include
] information about how prevalent DRM technologies are, if
] they allow "consumers, educational institutions and
] libraries to engage in all lawful uses of the product,"
] and how often copyright holders have tried to glean
] subscriber information from Internet service providers.

Senator wants limits on copy protection | CNET News.com