If either you or a loved one is a Twitch streamer, you should be holding your breath and watching the spending bill due to be passed by December 18th.
In recent years, the yearly spending bill has been a big deal. Its failure to pass has caused government shutdowns, and this year is as high stakes as ever. With covid, seat changes ranging from the legislature to the presidency, and political interests the spending bill is going to be charged with motivation from all sides to get what they want. The yearly spending bill has become a vehicle for politicians to slide whatever they’ve failed to pass in other sessions into a gigantic bill. This year is no different.
There are sure to be other sneaky attempts to pass failed legislation in this omnibus bill, but there is an especially heinous portion of the bill that’s caused public alarm. The CASE Act, or Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement, aims to create an assembly within the US Copyright Office, which according to The Verge would have the ability to charge streamers in violation of copyright with a felony and possibly time in prison.
Social Outrage
According to Protocol, “A group of 18 organizations, including tech trade groups, advocacy organizations, and multiple library associations, are urging congressional leadership to decline to include the provisions, according to a letter obtained by Protocol on Friday.” They aren’t alone, many have taken to the internet to publicly express their disagreements with the bill as well as their distaste for Thom Tillis, who is apparently behind the push to include these provisions.
Some have even taken the liberty to “follow the money” and have published major donors to PACs that contribute to Tillis’ campaign committee.
$30,000 judgments issued by people who are not judges but rather officers of the Copyright Office, who see copyright holders—not the general public—as their customers, are not “small claims”. These are judgments that could ruin the lives of regular people; people who are engaging in the things we all do when we’re online: sharing memes, sharing videos, and downloading images.
- Katharine Trendacosta, The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Once again, according to The Verge, regular internet users could face fines up to $30,000 for sharing videos, memes, or streaming violations under the CASE Act.
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