January 27, 2003

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20015

Dear Representative:

We are writing to ask that you co-sponsor HR 107, the Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act (DMCRA), recently introduced on a bi-partisan basis by Congressmen Rick Boucher (D-VA) and John Doolittle (R-CA). HR 107 will ensure a proper balance in copyright law between the rights of copyright users and the rights of copyright owners.

Four years ago, Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, but unfortunately failed to adequately address fair use and related consumer issues. By introducing the DMCRA, Congressmen Boucher and Doolittle recognized that it is now time for Congress to recalibrate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to safeguard the interests of the public. The library community strongly supports the DMCRA because it:

• reaffirms fair use in a networked environment
• resolves key concerns regarding hardware and software that permit significant non-infringing uses
• allows researchers to engage in the scientific research of technological protection measures.

Collectively, our five national associations represent many thousands of libraries and librarians across the Nation. The library community has a long-standing interest in federal policies that impact the way libraries provide access to their collections and services to the American public.

We believe that the DMCRA is essential to the future conduct of research and education in the digital age. We therefore urge you to add your support to HR 107 and to fair use for all Americans. Thank you.

Sincerely,

American Association of Law Libraries

American Library Association

Association of Research Libraries

Medical Library Association

Special Libraries Association