| GAO Reports on PRC
Semiconductor Industry |
4/19. The General Accounting
Office (GAO) released a report [83
pages in PDF] titled "Export Controls: Rapid Advances in
China's Semiconductor Industry Underscore Need for Fundamental
U.S. Policy Review".
The report found that "U.S. policies and practices to
control the export of semiconductor technology to China are
unclear and inconsistent", and that while "export
regulations restrict certain sales that would make a direct
and significant contribution to China's military capabilities,
the United States generally approves most exports of
semiconductor manufacturing equipment and materials to
China."
The U.S. regulates the export of certain dual use
technologies, including equipment and materials used to make
semiconductors, for national security or foreign policy
reasons. The GAO report notes that "Semiconductors,
commonly referred to as computer ``chips,´´ are key
components in computers, communications equipment, and weapons
systems. U.S. policy on the export of such ``dual use´´
items -- goods and technologies that have both civilian and
military uses -- is a subject of continuing debate."
The report found that "Since 1986, China's efforts to
improve its semiconductor manufacturing capability have
narrowed the gap between U.S. and Chinese semiconductor
manufacturing technology from between 7 to 10 years to 2 years
or less. According to our analysis of information obtained
from semiconductor manufacturing facilities in China and
industry experts, China’s most advanced commercial
manufacturing facilities can produce chips that are only one
generation behind current, commercial state of the art
technology."
The report also found that "U.S. policies and practices
to control the export of semiconductor technology to China are
unclear and inconsistent, leading to uncertainty among U.S.
industry officials about the rationale for some licensing
decisions. Under the Export Administration Regulations
pertaining to China, the general licensing policy is to
approve applications, except those items that would make a
direct and significant contribution to specific areas of
China's military. We found that the United States approves
most licenses for exports of semiconductor manufacturing
equipment and materials to China. Although U.S. practice has
been aimed at keeping China at least two generations (about 3
to 4 years) behind global state of the art semiconductor
manufacturing capabilities, the regulations make no reference
to the level of technology that can be exported to China
relative to the current commercial state of the art.
The report further found that "U.S. agencies have not
conducted the analyses, such as assessing foreign availability
of this technology or the cumulative effects of such exports
on U.S. national security interests, necessary to justify such
a practice or serve as the basis for licensing decisions.
Consequently, the executive branch does not have a sound, well
documented basis for making export licensing decisions to
China."
The report recommends that the Secretaries of Commerce,
Defense and State "reassess and document U.S. export
policy on semiconductor manufacturing equipment and materials
to China. Specifically, we are recommending that these
agencies complete the analyses needed to serve as a sound
basis for an updated policy; develop new export controls, if
appropriate, or alternative means for protecting U.S. security
interests; and communicate the results of these efforts to the
U.S. Congress and industry."
The report also notes that the departments involved do not
agree with its findings.
The report was prepared at the request of Sen. Fred Thompson
(R-TN), the ranking Republican on the Senate Governmental
Affairs Committee. Sen. Thompson has a long history of
opposing on national security grounds the liberalization of
export control laws and regulations pertaining to encryption
products, high performance computers, and other dual use
software and equipment. |
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| Secretary Evans Addresses Trade, Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
4/19. Commerce Secretary Donald
Evans gave a speech
to the American Chamber of
Commerce in Japan in Tokyo in which he advocated free
trade, innovation, and free enterprise. He said that emerging
sectors should not be stymied by new trade barriers. He also
reviewed the Bush Administration's policies.
Evans stated that among President Bush's legislative
accomplishments for encouraging innovation and
entrepreneurship are the recent tax cut, the three year
acceleration of capital expense depreciation contained in the
economic stimulus package, increased government research and
development spending, and education reform. He also stated
that the President is advocating personal retirement accounts,
and Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).
Evans also advocated free trade. He stated that "We need
to lower trade barriers: globally (by working together on the
Doha Development Agenda), multilaterally (through APEC), and
bilaterally (through our Economic Partnership and other
efforts). I would like to see us make an effort to ensure that
our new, emerging sectors -- where we stand to see the most
gain from our innovations and through our entrepreneurs -- are
not stymied through new trade barriers."
Evans also advocated the moral virtues of trade. He said that
trade "creates stability and the prospect of a brighter
future. Trade compels governments to bring transparency and
clarity to their economic decision making, and combats the
corruption that impedes progress, entrenches self servers, and
perpetuates poverty."
He also stated that "trade is inherently democratic.
Economic freedom encourages political freedoms. New
enterprises and access to capital lead to the creation of a
merchant class. Middle classes demand greater political
participation." Evans travels to China after his visit to
Japan. |
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| Evans Discusses IPR and
China |
4/19. Commerce Secretary Donald
Evans addressed intellectual property rights (IPR) and the
People's Republic of China at a press conference in Tokyo,
Japan. See, transcript.
Evans stated that he will next travel to China. He said that
"I'll congratulate China for becoming a member of the WTO"
and "I will express not only our notes of
congratulations, but the importance of compliance. And offer
our support to them to assure that they become in full
compliance of their WTO obligations. Those include obligations
that relate to intellectual property right protection. And so
I'm sure the issue will come up as to how important it is that
they have strong intellectual property right laws in place,
and also make sure that they enforce those laws."
He added that "We have teams of people that are working
with them in various areas of the WTO rules so that they will
come into compliance as soon as possible." |
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| 9th Circuit Applies PSLRA
Scienter Requirement to Accountants |
4/19. The U.S.
Court of Appeals (9thCir) issued its opinion
in DSAM
Global Value Fund v. Altris Software, a class
action case involving the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act (PSLRA).
District Court. Plaintiffs filed a complaint in U.S. District Court
(SDCal) against Altris
Software (now renamed Spescom) and Price Waterhouse Coopers
(PWC), the accounting firm hired by Altris to audit its 1996
financial statement, alleging securities fraud. Plaintiffs
alleged that PWC botched the audit. The issue is whether this
satisfies the heightened pleading requirements of the PSLRA,
and the Ninth Circuit's interpretation of the scienter
requirements of the PSLRA in In re Silicon
Graphics, Inc. Sec. Litig., 183 F.3d 970. The District
Court dismissed the complaint as to PWC.
Appeals Court. The Appeals Court affirmed. It held that
"the complaint sets out a compelling case of negligence
-- perhaps even gross negligence -- but does not give rise to
a strong inference that the auditor acted with an intent to
defraud, conscious misconduct, or deliberate recklessness, as
is required in a securities fraud case." |
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| Commerce Department
Official Addresses Broadband Policy |
4/17. The Commerce Department's Chris Israel gave a speech
titled "Prometheans in Alaska -- Education and
Technology, the Foundation of our Future". He spoke at
the Educause Networking 2002 Conference in Washington DC.
He praised the use of broadband technologies in education,
such as by the Chugach
School District in Alaska, which recently won a Commerce
Department Baldridge
Award. He also addressed government policies designed to
promote broadband deployment.
He stated that "At the federal level, there are several
steps we are already taking. We have proposed accelerating the
depreciation schedules for business investment in capital
equipment, such as broadband equipment, to improve the
business case for investing. We continue to urge Congress to
make the R&D tax credit permanent to incent further
investments in cutting edge technologies, such as broadband
enabling technologies, and we pushed to extend the Internet
tax moratorium to support development and adoption of
e-commerce applications."
He continued that "The President has also made
e-government a top management priority for his Administration,
and we're trying to lead by example in the use of broadband
e-government applications to leverage our resources and better
serve our constituents."
Israel also addressed state and local regulation affecting
broadband deployment. He stated that "The localities that
create the most broadband friendly environments may be like
the localities that attracted railroads in the last century,
while the localities that are not broadband friendly may end
up like the towns by-passed by the railroads. Availability of
bandwidth should be prioritized with other considerations such
as rights of way, taxes and application fees, tower siting,
zoning, building and construction codes, building access,
franchise agreements, historic preservation and environmental
protections."
Israel is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy at
the Technology Administration
of the Department of Commerce. |
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| FCC Files Petition for
Review of Appeals Court Opinion in Fox v. FCC |
4/19. The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) filed a Petition
for Rehearing En Banc [40 pages in PDF] with the U.S. Court of Appeals
(DCCir) in Fox
v. FCC. The FCC seeks review of the February
19, 2002, opinion
of the Court which held that the FCC's national TV station
ownership rule (NTSO) and its cable broadcast cross ownership
rule (CBCO) both violate the Administrative Procedure Act
(APA) as arbitrary and capricious, and Section 202(h) of the
Telecom Act. The three judge panel vacated the CBCO rule, but
merely remanded the NTSO rule to the FCC. The current Petition
for Rehearing seeks review regarding the standard to be
applied to the FCC in challenges to its rules.
The FCC is required by statute to conduct biennial reviews of
its ownership rules. The statute requires that it "shall
determine whether any of such rules are necessary in the
public interest" and repeal those section that are no
longer in the public interest. The FCC conducted its first
biennial review in 1998, but did not repeal or modify its NTSO
or CBCO rules as a result. Various parties, including Fox, filed petitions
for review with the Court of Appeals. The Appeals Court
applied this statutory language in its plain meaning. The FCC
now argues that the term "necessary" should not
necessarily be construed to mean "necessary"; and,
if it is, this "threatens to impose a continuing and
unworkable burden on the agency in carrying out its biennial
review responsibilities."
The Statute. The statutory provision at issue was
enacted by the Congress in the Telecom Act of 1996. It
provides, at Section 202(h), that the FCC "shall review
its rules adopted pursuant to this section and all of its
ownership rules biennially as part of its regulatory reform
review under section 11 of the Communications Act of 1934 and
shall determine whether any of such rules are necessary in the
public interest as the result of competition. The Commission
shall repeal or modify any regulation it determines to be no
longer in the public interest."
FCC Argument. The FCC wrote that "The panel held
in that decision that under the applicable statutory provision
the Commission applied ``too low a standard´´ in conducting
its biennial review of media ownership regulations and that
under the correct standard set forth in Section 202(h) of the
1996 Telecommunications Act, ``a regulation should be retained
only insofar as it is necessary in, not merely consonant with,
the public interest.´´ ... This holding, which can be read
to require a higher standard to retain an existing rule than
to adopt it in the first instance, imposes a substantial and
continuing burden on the agency that threatens administrative
paralysis. This result is not compelled by the language of the
statute or by its legislative history." (Citation to Fox
omitted.)
The FCC argues for "A less stringent interpretation of
the term ``necessary´´ ". It argues that the Court
should construe this word in its "statutory context"
rather than "in its most literal sense".
Background. After its 1998 biennial review, the FCC
maintained its NTSO rule (47
C.F.R. § 73.3555(e)) and its CBCO rule (47
C.F.R. § 76.501(a)). Fox Television Stations and various
other TV networks and cable companies petitioned the Court of
Appeals for review of the FCC's decision not to repeal or
modify these two rules. The petitioners asserted that these
rules violate the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), § 202(h)
of the Telecom Act of 1996, and the First Amendment of the
Constitution.
The Court rejected the First Amendment argument. However, the
Court of Appeals held: "We conclude that the Commission's
decision to retain the rules was arbitrary and capricious and
contrary to law. We remand the national television station
ownership rule to the Commission for further consideration,
and we vacate the cable/ broadcast cross ownership rule
because we think it unlikely the Commission will be able on
remand to justify retaining it."
Chief Judge Douglas
Ginsburg, writing for a three judge panel, found that the
FCC "has adduced not a single valid reason to believe the
NTSO Rule is necessary in the public interest, either to
safeguard competition or to enhance diversity. Although we
agree with the Commission that protecting diversity is a
permissible policy, the Commission did not provide an adequate
basis for believing the Rule would in fact further that cause.
We conclude, therefore, that the 1998 decision to retain the
NTSO Rule was arbitrary and capricious in violation of the
APA."
The Court similarly held that the CBCO violates of the APA. It
found that the FCC "failed to consider the increased
number of television stations now in operation, and it is
clear that the Commission failed to reconcile the decision
under review with the TV Ownership Order it had issued only
shortly before. We conclude, therefore, that the Commission's
diversity rationale for retaining the CBCO Rule is woefully
inadequate."
Michael
Powell, who was a FCC Commissioner in 1998, dissented from
the retention of the NTSO and CBCO rules. He is now Chairman
of the FCC, and is joined by two other Republican
Commissioners, Kevin Martin and Kathleen Abernathy, who are
skeptical of ownership rules.
The February 19 Fox opinion is published at 280 F.3d 1027. It
is No. 00-1222. |
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| Copyright Lawyer Barbie |
4/15. The U.S.
Court of Appeals (9thCir) issued its opinion
[PDF] in Christian
v. Mattel, a case regarding Rule 11 sanctions
and the bringing of frivolous copyright infringement suits.
District Court. Plaintiff filed a complaint in U.S.
District Court (CDCal) against Mattel alleging copyright
infringement by its Barbie
doll. The District Court found the claim to be frivolous and
ordered plaintiff, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
11, to pay Mattel $501,565 in attorneys' fees.
The Rule. FRCP 11 provides, in part, that "By
presenting to the court (whether by signing, filing,
submitting, or later advocating) a pleading, written motion,
or other paper, an attorney or unrepresented party is
certifying to the best of the person's knowledge, information,
and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the
circumstances ... (2) the claims, defenses, and other legal
contentions therein are warranted by existing law or by a
nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification, or
reversal of existing law or the establishment of new law; (3)
the allegations and other factual contentions have evidentiary
support or, if specifically so identified, are likely to have
evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further
investigation or discovery".
Appeals Court. The Appeals Court vacated and remanded.
It ruled that the District Court's Rule 11 finding that the
complaint was frivolous was not an abuse of discretion. It
further stated that the Plaintiff's conduct was
"egregious". However, it vacated and remanded for
further proceedings because the record was not clear regarding
whether the order was also based upon conduct outside of the
pleadings, such as in oral argument, at a meeting of counsel,
and at a deposition. The Court held that Rule 11 sanctions may
only be based upon pleadings.
Obiter Dictum. Barbie fans may be interested that Judge
Margaret McKeown also wrote that while Barbie is "so
perfect in her sculpture and presentation, and so comfortable
in every setting", she "could not have imagined
herself in the middle of Rule 11 proceedings." |
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| More News |
4/19. Microsoft announced that Chairman and Chief Software
Architect Bill
Gates will testify on Monday, April 22, in the U.S. District Court (DC)
proceeding on remedies in the long running antitrust case. See
MSFT
release.
4/19. The House
Judiciary Committee announced that it has rescheduled for
Wednesday, April 24, its mark up of several bills, including HR 3482,
the Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2001, HR 3215,
the Combatting Illegal Gambling Reform and Modernization Act,
and HR 1877,
the Child Sex Crimes Wiretapping Act of 2001. These bills had
previously been scheduled for mark up on Thursday, April 18.
4/18. Rep. Ed Markey
(D-MA) introduced HR 4513, a bill regarding the sale and
purchase of Social Security numbers. It was referred to the House Commerce Committee
and the House Ways
and Means Committee.
4/19. The U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) released its FY
2001 USPTO Performance and Accountability Report.
4/18. The Bureau of Export
Administration (BXA) was renamed the Bureau of Industry
and Security (BIS). This bureau has historically handled
export licensing for dual use items, including computers and
software. Recently, however, it has taken on new
responsibilities pertaining to cyber security; it now includes
the Critical Infrastructure
Assurance Office (CIAO). Kenneth Juster, the Under
Secretary of Commerce in charge of this bureau, stated in a release
that "The new name better reflects the breadth of the
Bureau's activities in the spheres of national, homeland,
economic, and cyber security".
4/19. The U.S.
Court of Appeals (7thCir) issued its opinion
in USA
v. Baronia, a case involving use of a PC,
scanner and printer to counterfeit U.S. currency. The
defendant plead guilty. On appeal he argued that the District
Court should not have enhanced his sentence pursuant to
§ 2B5.1(b)(2) of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. He
argued that he was not a large scale producer, and his
counterfeits were unsophisticated. The Appeals Court affirmed.
4/19. The Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) published a notice
in the Federal Register requesting comments regarding its
proposed rule amending the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to
exempt certain investment advisers that provide advisory
services through the Internet from the prohibition on SEC
registration set out in § 203A of the Act. The
amendments would permit these advisers to register with the
SEC instead of with state securities authorities. Comments
must be received by June 6, 2002. See, Federal Register, April
19, 2002, Vol. 67, No. 76, at Pages 19499 - 19506. |
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| About Tech Law Journal |
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| Monday, April 22 |
The House will meet in pro forma session at 2:00 PM.
The Senate will meet at 1:00 PM for morning business. At 2:00
PM it will resume consideration of the energy reform bill.
There will be no roll call votes.
Day one of a three day conference of the Electronics Industry Alliance.
See, agenda
[MS Word]. Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel.
11:30 AM. Sen. Charles
Grassley (R-IA) and Robert
Zoellick will hold a press conference and rally to urge
the Senate leadership to schedule a vote on legislation to
grant the President Trade Promotion Authority. Sen.
Grassley is the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance
Committee, which approved its version of HR
3005 in December of 2001. Zoellick is the U.S. Trade Representative.
Location: Room 215, Dirksen Building.
12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM. Sen.
John Breaux (D-LA) will speak at a luncheon at the spring
convention of the Electronics
Industry Alliance. Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Extended deadline to file reply comments with the FCC in response
to its notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the appropriate
regulatory requirements for incumbent local exchange carriers'
(ILECs') provision of broadband telecommunications services.
See, notice
in the Federal Register. See, Order
[PDF] extending deadline from April 1 to April 22. |
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| Tuesday, April 23 |
The House will meet at 12:30 PM for morning hour and 2:00 PM
for legislative business. No votes are expected before 6:30
PM. The House will consider a number of measures under
suspension of the rules.
Day two of a three day conference of the Electronics Industry Alliance.
See, agenda
[MS Word]. Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel.
9:30 - 11:30 AM. The American
Enterprise Institute (AEI) will host a lecture by Jerry Hausman
of MIT titled From 2G to 3G: Wireless Competition for
Internet Related Services. See, program summary and
online registration page. Location: 12th Floor, AEI, 1150
17th St., NW.
CANCELLED. 9:30
AM. The U.S. Court of
Appeals (DCCir) will hear oral argument in Saga
Broadcasting Corp v. FCC, No. 01-1249. Judges Ginsburg,
Sentelle and Henderson will preside. Location: 333
Constitution Ave. NW, Washington DC. This case will
be decided without oral argument pursuant to Rule 34j.
10:00 AM. The House
Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice, State, and the Judiciary will hold a hearing on the
proposed budget for FY 2003 for the USPTO. Location:
George Washington University, Loudoun Campus.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on reformation of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of
Justice. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.
12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM. General
Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
will speak on contributions that the electronics industry has
made to military preparedness at a luncheon at the spring
convention of the Electronics
Industry Alliance. Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel.
2:30 PM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Antitrust,
Competition, and Business and Consumer Rights will hold a
hearing titled Cable Competition and the ATT Comcast Merger.
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI)
will preside. This hearing had originally been scheduled for
April 10. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.
7:00 - 10:00 PM. Tom
Ridge, Director of the Office of Homeland
Security, will speak at a dinner at the spring convention
of the Electronics Industry
Alliance. Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel. |
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| Wednesday, April 24. |
The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business.
Day three of a three day conference of the Electronics Industry Alliance.
See, agenda
[MS Word]. Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington DC.
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM. The Consumer
Electronics Association (CEA) will host an event titled
"Digital Television Summit: Moving to Mass Markets".
Rep. Billy Tauzin
(R-LA) will give the opening keynote address. A 1:45 PM panel
will include Michael Petricone (CEA), Rick Chessen (FCC),
Andrew Levin (Minority Counsel, House Commerce Committee), and
Jessica Wallace (Counsel, House Commerce Committee). See, agenda.
Location: Washington Convention Center.
9:00 AM. Day one of a two day meeting of the Bureau of Export Administration's
(BXA) Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee
(ISTAC). The ISTAC advises the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Export Administration on technical questions
that affect the level of export controls applicable to
information systems equipment and technology. The meeting will
be open to the public in part, and closed to the public in
part. The open agenda includes a presentation on web based
remote hardware management, a presentation on microelectro-
mechanical (MEMS) technology and applications, and a
presentation on battery and fuel cell technology. See, notice
in Federal Register. Location: Hoover Building, Room 3884,
14th Street between Pennsylvania Ave. and Constitution Ave.,
NW.
10:00 AM. The House
Judiciary Committee will mark up several tech bills,
including HR 3482,
the Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2001, HR 3215,
the Combatting Illegal Gambling Reform and Modernization Act,
and HR 1877,
the Child Sex Crimes Wiretapping Act of 2001. Location: Room
2141, Rayburn Building.
12:00 NOON. Sen. George
Allen (R-VA) and high tech business representatives will
hold a press conference on the importance of trade promotion
authority to the high tech community. Location: Room S-211,
LBJ Room, U.S. Capitol.
12:00 NOON - 1:30 PM. The CTIA
will host an event titled "Wireless Issues Day
Luncheon". This event is open to members of the media.
For more information, contact Travis Larson at tlarson @ctia.org or Kim
Kuo at kkuo @ctia.org.
Location: Room 325, Russell Building.
1:00 - 4:30 PM. The CFTC's
Technology Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on
technology related issues in the financial services and
commodity markets, including cyber security. See, notice
in Federal Register. Location: Room 1000, CFTC, Three
Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st St., NW.
2:30 PM. The Senate
Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Science, Technology,
and Space will hold a hearing on S
2037, a bill providing for the establishment of a national
emergency technology guard, and S 2182, a bill to authorize
funding for computer and network security research and
education. Location: Room 253, Russell Building. |
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| Thursday, April 25 |
The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business.
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM. Day one of a two day Copyright Conference
hosted by the USPTO, the
purpose of which is to "discuss current domestic and
international issues vital to the development of e-commerce
with members of the business and intellectual property
communities." See, USPTO
notice. Registration is required. Registration closed on
April 19. Location: The Academy for Educational Development
Conference Center, 1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 8th Floor.
9:00 AM. Day two of a two day meeting of the Bureau of Export Administration's
Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC). See,
notice
in Federal Register. Location: Hoover Building, Room 3884,
14th Street between Pennsylvania Ave. and Constitution Ave.,
NW.
9:30 AM. The Senate
Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on online privacy
legislation. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.
12:15 PM. The FCBA's
Young Lawyers Committee will host a brown bag lunch. The topic
will be "The Year of the 271". The speakers will be
Dorothy Attwood (Chief of Wireline Competition Bureau),
Michelle Carey, (Chief of the Competition Policy Division),
Deena Shetler (Deputy Chief of the Pricing Policy Division),
and Renee Crittendon (Senior Attorney Advisor in the
Competition Policy Division). RSVP to Pam Slipakoff. Location:
Room 8-C245, FCC, 445 12th Street, SW.
12:30 PM. The House
Commerce Committee's Telecom and Internet Subcommittee
will hold a hearing titled "Ensuring Content Protection
in the Digital Age". Location: Room 2123, Rayburn
Building.
2:00 PM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on several
judicial nominees, including Julia Gibbons (to be a judge of
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit), Leonard
Davis (U.S.D.C., Eastern District of Texas), David Godbey
(U.S.D.C., Northern District of Texas), Andrew Hanen
(U.S.D.C., Southern District of Texas), Samuel Mays (U.S.D.C.,
Western District of Tennessee), and Thomas Rose (U.S.D.C.,
Southern District of Ohio). Location: Room 226, Dirksen
Building.
3:30 PM. Mark
Lemley (Boalt Hall) will give a lecture titled
"Antitrust, Intellectual Property, and Standard Setting
Organizations". For more information, contact Julie Cohen
at jec@law.
georgetown.edu. Location: Georgetown University
Law Center, Faculty Lounge, 5th Floor, McDonough Hall, 600
New Jersey Ave., NW.
Deadline to submit Notices of Intent to Participate to the Copyright Office (CO)
in its negotiation of 17
U.S.C. § 118 noncommercial educational broadcasting
compulsory license. See, CO notice
in Federal Register. |
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| Friday, April 26 |
The House will not be in session.
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM. Day two of a two day Copyright Conference
hosted by the USPTO. See, USPTO
notice. Registration closed on April 19. Location: The
Academy for Educational Development Conference Center, 1825
Connecticut Avenue, NW, 8th Floor.
10:00 AM. The FCC's
Technology Advisory Council will hold a meeting. See, FCC
notice and notice
in Federal Register. Location: Commission Meeting Room, FCC,
445 12th St., SW.
12:00 NOON. The Cato Institute
will host a briefing titled Financial Privacy and the War
on Terrorism. The speakers will be David Burton
(Prosperity Institute), Bradley Jansen (Free Congress
Foundation), and Veronique de Rugy
(Cato). Lunch will follow. See, agenda and
online registration page. Location: Room B-369, Rayburn
Building.
12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM. FCC
Commissioner Kathleen
Abernathy will address the American Woman in Radio &
Television Awards Luncheon. For more information, contact
Sallie Gitlitz at 202 337-4684. Location: Ballroom, National Press Club, 529 14th
St. NW, 13th Floor.
3:00 - 5:00 PM. FCC
Commissioner Kathleen
Abernathy will address a Women's Bar Association Tea.
Location: Mayflower Hotel.
Extended deadline to submit reply comments to the Copyright Office in
response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on "the
requirements for giving copyright owners reasonable notice of
the use of their works for sound recordings under statutory
license and for how records of such use shall be kept and made
available to copyright owners." See, original notice
in Federal Register, and extension notice
in Federal Register. |
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