Valenti to Step Down; Tauzin May Head MPAA 110
The Importance of writes "The New York Post is reporting that Jack Valenti is stepping down as head of the MPAA, probably by the end of the year. Rep. Billy Tauzin (R - LA) will be taking over. After 37 years as head of the MPAA, at least Valenti is going out on a high note, with most of Hollywood ticked off at him for the screener ban. bIPlog comments on Valenti's apparent agelessness." The Post article quotes Tauzin's office as denying that such an offer has even been made, but acknowledging that one might be in the works.
No surprise, Tauzin has taken this much money .... (Score:5, Insightful)
In 2004, (so far) 10,400 [opensecrets.org] dollars.
In 2002 He took just over 99,000 [opensecrets.org] dollars
Looks to me like he's working for them already...or more accurately has been bought.
Tauzin is a GREAT choice (Score:5, Insightful)
p.s. Reason #3 to hate Congressman Tauzin: sponsored "anti-spam" legislation that was ghost-written by the DMA.
Not surprising in the least. (Score:5, Insightful)
For those that don't remember, the link above is referring to the Tauzin-Dingell bill, which was the infamous bill to allow companies like Verizon to prevent sharing their lines with other companies offering DSL, like Covad, etc.
I'm more than happy to see Billy Tauzin leave as a congressman, but I have no doubts that the tactics currently employed by the MPAA won't change with Valenti leaving.
Conflict of interrest ? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I hope the fucker dies of ass cancer (Score:2, Insightful)
Like him or not, the MPAA is behind a lot of your favourite movies. Don't hate the man or the group, hate their antiquated. protectionist distribution system.
Re:No surprise, Tauzin has taken this much money . (Score:3, Insightful)
If a tech-friendly candidate (say, Sonny Perdue of Georgia, who just withdrew GA DMV records from MATRIX) was running for office, and you contributed to him, have you 'bought' him? No, you've donated to help a candidate win who you know will help you. The same way that your donation to EFF will help defend fair use exemptions in copyright law. You're not buying their opinion, you're helping them because you two are trying to accomplish the same thing.
This has a practical implication, too. If we pretend to ourselves that MPAA friendly leaders like Sen Feinstein and Rep Tauzin are only 'doing it for the money', it might make us feel better, but won't be helpful. There are genuine principles being held by the IP holders.
Unless we can understand and address their concerns, and show how other principles override, we're in a shouting match. One we won't win. The people who vote based on this issue, for the most part, are people whose jobs are at stake. There are far more IP consumers than producers, but for consumers, it's not a compelling, overriding issue the way national security or the economy is.
Re:Alienating the Democrats? (Score:3, Insightful)
He was a (typical Southern) Democrat when he was first elected. He switched parties in the middle of the 90's.
He's less a member of the Republican Party and more a member of the "Whichever Way the Wind Is Blowing" party.