John Villasenor, professor of electrical engineering in the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and professor of public policy in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, provided expert testimony at a U.S. congressional hearing.
On June 2, the House Judiciary Committee convened a hearing to consider questions on digital media distribution. Over the last 15 years, there have been fundamental shifts in how consumers access media. Internet-based distribution is now the norm, and content providers are increasingly shifting to license-based models in which consumers are licensees as opposed to owners of copies of digital books, songs and movies. This raises important questions regarding the role of copyright law in the digital media ecosystem.
Villasenor provided testimony on how potential changes to copyright law would impact the media distribution landscape. His testimony also addressed the growing role of contract law in governing the permitted and prohibited uses of the books, songs, and movies obtained over the Internet.
To view the testimony, visit the House Judiciary Committee.
