PANEL WILL FOCUS ON CONSUMER AND INDUSTRY IMPACT

Washington, Nov 15, 2005 - "As the public use of digital entertainment increases, so does the tension between content providers and consumers," stated Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee. "Traditionally, the content providers enjoy exclusive rights to the protected, but consumers expect fair use of the licensed work. In this hearing, we will examine the origins of fair use, look at its application in different industries, the appropriate protections for copyrighted works, and balancing the rights of content owners and consumers."

The hearing titled "Fair Use: Its Effects on Consumers and Industry" is scheduled for Wednesday, November 16, at 10:00 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn. The following witnesses are scheduled to testify:

Professor Peter Jaszi, Washington College of Law, American University;
Mr. Gary Shapiro, President and Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Electronics Association;
Ms. Prudence S. Adler, Associate Executive Director, Federal Relations and Information Policy, Association of Research Libraries (testifying on behalf of The Library Copyright Alliance);
Mr. Jonathan Band (testifying on behalf of NetCoalition);
Ms. Gigi B. Sohn, President and Founder, Public Knowledge;
Mr. James V. DeLong, Senior Fellow & Director - IPCentral.Info, Progress & Freedom Foundation;
Mr. Frederic Hirsch, Senior Vice President, Intellectual Property Enforcement, Entertainment Software Association; and
Mr. Paul Aiken, Executive Director, The Authors Guild.