Feb 1998 HR 2281, the Administration’s WIPO legislation which contained restrictions on new recording devices, voted out of House Judiciary Copyright Subcommittee; Rep. Boucher’s amendment to exempt VCRs and PCs from bill defeated by 11-2 vote.
April 1998 Full House Judiciary Committee passes HR 2281 with no significant changes. Senate Judiciary Committee passes S 1121, its version of the copyright legislation. Senator Ashcroft’s amendment to S 1121 to neutralize some of the restrictions on new technology is approved.
May 1998 Senate adopts S 1121 by 99-0 vote. HR 2281 referred to House Commerce Committee for consideration.
June 1998 House Commerce Telecommunications Subcommittee holds hearings on HR 2281on June 5. Two weeks later the subcommittee makes substantial changes to improve the legislation and favorably recommends it to the full Commerce Committee. New language clarifies that consumer electronics, computer and telecommunications products will not be required to respond to any and all technological measures used by program providers.
July 1998 Full House Commerce Committee endorses the changes of its Telecommunications Subcommittee to HR 2281, adds an important “fair use” amendment, and passes it out of committee.
Aug 1998 HR 2281 passes the House of Representatives.
Sept 1998 House/Senate Conference Committee begins deliberations on HR 2281. Intense negotiations ultimately produce final bill with benefits to consumers, consumer electronics retailers and professional servicers, libraries and library users, and schools.
Oct 1998 HR 2281, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, receives final approval by the Senate and House of Representatives and is signed into law by President Clinton.
