Stefan Mileschin

US Republicans have fired an advisor who suggested a radical shift on its copyright policy.

Derek Khanna penned a paper which suggested that copyright law needed to be reformed because it was not in line with GOP policy on the free market. He pointed out that copyright controls were unbalanced in favour of the rights holder and needed to be changed.

It advocates several key reforms, including reducing copyright terms and limiting the draconian "statutory damages" that can reach as high as $150,000 per infringing work.

The paper was released and was swiftly retracted by the GOP, many of whom depended on Big Content money.

According to Ars Technica, the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of Republicans in the House of Representatives, told staffer Derek Khanna that he will be out of a job when Congress re-convenes in January.

The incoming chairman of the RSC, Steve Scalise, was approached by several Republican members of Congress who were upset that Khanna dared to stand up to Big Content when it was GOP policy to roll over and do what they were told.

But the memo was actually seen as a viable stance on copyright tech policy by scholars and public interests advocates. In fact it was actually seen as the GOP working to make itself electable among young voters and those who know anything about technology.

It looks like the Republicans still think that surrendering to Big Content and its cheque book is more likely to get them elected than sensible policies.

http://news.techeye.net/internet/rep...e-on-copyright