Inquiry on Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Internet Economy

The Department of Commerce's Internet Policy Task Force is conducting a comprehensive review of the relationship between the availability and protection of online copyrighted works and innovation in the Internet economy.

The Department, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seek public comment from all interested stakeholders, including rights holders, Internet service providers, and consumers on the challenges of protecting copyrighted works online and the relationship between copyright law and innovation in the Internet economy. After analyzing the comments submitted in response to this Notice, the Internet Policy Task Force intends to issue a report that will contribute to the Administration's domestic policy and international engagement in the area of online copyright protection and innovation.

Comments are due on or before November 19, 2010.

From Press release:

The initiative on Copyright Policy, Creativity and Innovation in the Internet economy seeks to identify policies that will:

1) Generate benefits for rights holders of creative works accessible online and make recommendations with respect to those who infringe on those rights;
2) Enable the robust and free flow of information to facilitate innovation and growth of the Internet economy; and
3) Ensure transparency and due process in cooperative efforts to build confidence in the Internet as a means of distributing copyrighted works.