May 25, 2001

Senate Judiciary Panel Okays Copyright Revisions For Online Distance Education

The Senate Judiciary Committee May 17 approved a bill (S. 487) to expand the conditions under which copyrighted materials can be used in online distance education. The committee approved the "Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act of 2001" by unanimous consent.

The committee approved a substitute for the bill, cosponsored by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the panel's chair and ranking member, respectively, that permits instructors to distribute copyrighted materials to their students over the Internet. The revised bill would protect the interests of copyright owners by limiting the use of these materials to authorized educational uses only. The bill now moves to the full Senate.

Information: Dave Moore, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.