A week ago in this column, after visiting Valenti in his Washington office, I did my best to faithfully reflect the position of the lobbying organization he heads, the Motion Picture Association of America. Now it's my turn.
Saying you believe in compromise is one thing. Acting like it is another.
In fact, the entertainment cartel has in recent years grossly tipped the balance. Spending millions of dollars on campaign contributions and lobbying, it has persuaded Congress to enact laws reflecting a radical view of information and its use.
The major media/entertainment companies believe that control of information -- absolute control over how it can be used -- belongs to the owner of the copyright. They insist, moreover, that copyrights should be able to last indefinitely.
This is not a compromise, no matter what Valenti calls it. This is a radical agenda, one that overturns tradition and would ultimately wipe out the public domain, without which our culture would be vastly poorer.

{and that's why I read Dan Gillmor}