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<title>Stop H.R. 3028 |
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- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> |
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<div class="article reduced-width"> |
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<h2>Stop H.R. 3028 - Protect the Net - Stop the Trademark Monopolists</h2> |
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|
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<address class="byline">by Marc Rotenberg <<a |
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href="mailto:rotenberg@epic.org">rotenberg@epic.org</a>></address> |
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|
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<blockquote class="foreword"> |
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<p> |
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This bill fits a pattern: every time Congress wants to create a new |
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monopoly covering some activity formerly open to all, or extend and |
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increase an old monopoly, they apply the term “piracy” |
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to the free activity that the monopoly will stamp out. So whenever |
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you see anything described as “piracy” aside from the |
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capturing of ships, watch out for your liberties!</p> |
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<p>—<i>Richard Stallman</i> |
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</p> |
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</blockquote> |
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|
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<p><em>More information is available by following the links at the end of |
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this page.</em></p> |
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|
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<h3>Urgent</h3> |
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|
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<p> |
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The House of Representatives is about to vote on legislation |
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that would grant sweeping new powers for trademark holders and |
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undermine the rights of domain name holders, Internet users, |
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and small businesses. H.R. 3028 “The Trademark |
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Cyberpiracy Prevention Act of 1999” will also establish |
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unprecedented ability for trademark holders to sue Internet |
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users all around the world. And H.R. 32028 will undermine a |
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fair and carefully crafted international consensus on the |
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resolution of Internet name disputes. It's a bad bill and it |
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should be stopped.</p> |
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<p> |
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The House of Representatives may vote on H.R. 3028 as early as |
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Tuesday, October 26, 1999.</p> |
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|
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<h3>You Need To Act</h3> |
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|
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<p> |
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There is a chance to stop HR 3028. It has very few sponsors |
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and has moved quietly through Congress, mostly under the radar |
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of organizations and businesses that have worked to promote |
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the growth of the Internet. Also, Congress will soon break |
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for Thanksgiving.</p> |
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<p> |
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But you have to act!</p> |
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|
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<h3>What You Can Do</h3> |
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|
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<p> |
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It is vitally important for you to contact your Representative |
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in Congress and explain politely but firmly that you hope that |
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your Representative will VOTE AGAINST H.R. 3028.</p> |
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<p> |
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Here is a quick guide to Calling Your Congressman.</p> |
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|
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<ol> |
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<li>Call the Capitol Hill Switchboard (202-224-3121) and |
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ask to speak to your Congressman. (Don't know who your |
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Congressman is? Ok, go <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080611003520/https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml">here</a> [archived]).</li> |
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|
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<li>When you reach the office say to the person who answers |
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the phone:<p> |
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|
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“Hello, I'm a registered voter in the district of |
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Congressman <name>. I'm calling because I hope he/she |
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will vote against H.R. 3028, ‘The Cyberpiracy Act.’ |
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I don't like cyberpirates, but I believe this bill will hurt |
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ALL domain name holders on the Internet, including small |
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businesses, noncommercial organizations and individuals. Will |
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you please tell the Congressman that I asked him/her to vote |
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against H.R. 3028? Thanks.”</p> |
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|
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<p>Here are all the things you just did in 30 seconds:</p> |
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<ul> |
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<li>You made clear that you're a voter in the Congressman's |
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District (they'll listen to you!)</li> |
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<li>You said clearly that you are against a bill and you gave |
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the bill number and the title of the bill (it's important to |
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give both!)</li> |
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<li>You gave the Congressman a good reason to vote against |
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H.R. 3028 (Members of Congress like good reasons for votes)</li> |
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<li>You asked for a commitment to convey your position to the |
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Congressman (you want to be taken seriously)</li> |
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<li>You were polite (always a plus)</li> |
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<li>If you leave your name and address, that will make your call |
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even more effective (you might even get a letter)</li> |
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</ul> |
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</li> |
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|
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<li>If you like, you can also send an email to your Representative |
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with a new service offered at the House web site—check |
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<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080611003520/https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml">here</a> [archived].</li> |
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|
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<li>If you're still energized to do something, ask a friend or |
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neighbor who also lives in your district to make the same |
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call. You can also call the office of the Chairman of the |
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Rules Committee Congressman David Dreier and tell his |
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staffperson that you oppose H.R. 3028 and hope that Mr. |
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Dreier will put off a vote on the bill until the problems |
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are fixed.</li> |
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|
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<li>If you want to learn more about the problems with H.R. 3028, |
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look at the excellent letter from computer users and legal |
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experts. Also, visit Thomas and check out the bill and the |
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history.</li> |
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</ol> |
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|
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<h3>Relevant Information</h3> |
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|
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<ul> |
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<li><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/house-bill/3028"> |
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Information about H.R. 3028, including the Text of the bill</a></li> |
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<li><a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/help/dndr/udrp-en"> |
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Information about the ICANN Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy</a></li> |
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<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20000815221026/http://www.acm.org/usacm/trademark.html"> |
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Letter from ACM, Legal Experts on Problems with H.R. 3028</a></li> |
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</ul> |
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<p class="unprintable">Updated: |
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$Date: 2021/09/09 21:34:13 $ |
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