WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- Hollywood's top lobbyist is urging Congress not to pass a bill to exempt the use of filtering software from copyright law, The Hollywood Reporter said Friday.
Motion Picture Association of America chief Jack Valenti appeared at a House subcommittee hearing on the Family Movie Act of 2004, which supporters said would permit consumers to watch Hollywood product on DVD through a filtering system that would override objectionable images and language. Valenti argued that passage could jeopardize the future of copyright law and the financial well-being of one of America's most valued industries.
The legislation is being considered as Hollywood looks for a negotiated settlement for its concern over the ClearPlay DVD player and other movie-filtering software products.
Valenti said filmmakers do not object to "family friendly" versions of films, but he said they oppose allowing outside commercial enterprises to make those changes.
"Our objection is simply to Congress providing legal cover to companies that want to make a profit by offering an edited, abridged version without regard for the wishes of the director who created the movie or the studio that owns the copyright," Valenti said.
