iPods for Congress

Jeff Taylor | May 13, 2004

Let's see, 535 times $250, should get free shipping, even a volume discount. Seems like money well spent if it brings us rational copyright laws.

That Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) did not really "get" the issues involved in digital copyright until he bought an iPod shouldn't be that surprising. Staff and interested lobbyists write most complex legislation and members merely sign off on the results. What is surprising is that Doolittle and his allies recognize that their fair use rights as consumers have no place in the world envisioned by movie and recording industry lobbyists.