Begin forwarded message:
From: Paul Levy Date: April 26, 2006 5:27:36 PM EDT Subject: More about HR 683's attack on free speech
I have written to you before about HR 683, the "Trademark Dilution Revision Act", which would restrict free speech by depriving those accused of trademark infringement of explicit defenses of noncommercial use, fair use and news reporting that are afforded by the current statute. We have been trying for months to draw the trademark owner associations who are behind this bill, to put their arguments on the public record, and we are finally making some progress -- it is remarkable how little they have to say.
This past Saturday, Editor & Publisher posted a column by Steven Yahn that explained the problems, which lies in a subtle change in introductory language to the three defenses.
INTA has ducked these questions so far, but if it wants to change the law, it should tell us why.
Paul Alan Levy Public Citizen Litigation Group
1600 - 20th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009 (202) 588-1000