Induced to break the law

A bill currently before the U.S. Senate may make it illegal for me to tell you about software that can make copies of copyrighted files. Though it’s aimed at file-sharing networks, Senator Hatch’s Induce Act would make anyone who induces another person to commit copyright infringement liable for the same penalties.

If I were to recommend a really good CD ripper, such as, say, CDex or iTunes, any record company could say I induced people to make illegal copies of copyrighted material, and get the law on me. Remember–this isn’t a civil matter, it’s criminal, possibly involving jail time. The real problem is that inducement, as mentioned in the bill, could cover a broad range of activities, such as writing and talking. Looks like a conflict with the First Amendment to me.

The act tries to define ‘intentionally induces,’ but it comes off as vague, which means all sorts of people could get hauled before the courts by the FBI at the behest of corporations. I’m pretty disappointed one of my representatives, Senator Barbara Boxer, signed on to introduce the Induce Act. I hope you all get a chance to tell your representatives to defeat this poorly written bill.Wayne Cunningham

Senior Editor, CNET Download.com