I've posted a few times recently about the super-DMCA in the past week or so. Yesterday a Massachusetts legislative committee held a hearing on their version of it. I was aware of it, and thought about going, but in my true slacker sense didn't make it out. On the other hand, a bunch of people did go, and it sounds like they really may have made a difference. Freedom to Tinker has links to two sites with reports on it.
So, at the end of the day, one national lobbyist who hadn't apparently bothered to read the relevant Massachusetts law proposed a one-size-fits-all bill to a committee who then heard dozens of ardent opponents. The opponents were ordinary people who had taken personal days to voice their concerns. They learned about the problem through Weblogs, listservs, word of mouth. They came out in force. It was a great vision of the kind of democracy that the Net can foster. I even overheard one lobbyist whisper: "These guys all read the Weblogs." How subversive.
I hope this committee does the right thing. From what they said, anyway, this bill is in major trouble. It should be scrapped, not amended. It's a waste of good legislator's time. It's a special interest bill, plain and simple. [John Palfrey]
One side thing I caught form both of these blog posts was that people are becoming aware of weblogs. Both mentioned overhearing people mentioning them. Cool. Hopefully people in other states can have just as much success. I wonder if legislators in other states where this has passed will start to feel a bit foolish now that word is getting out about this.
