The e-world brings lots of changes, and our laws have to catch up. Congress has been considering legislation to ensure electronic contracts, signed with electronic signatures, are legally valid. We support that legislation because it provides business people with the legal certainty they need. We support that step. Everyone benefits when transactions can be moved online.
Consumers get greater choice and lower prices, and businesses get more efficient.
However, we think some targeted, but important changes are necessary in the House bill to ensure that vulnerable consumers are protected. I look forward to working with Congress to resolve these issues, and I think we'll be able to do that. President Clinton has also directed me to find other legal barriers to e-commerce and figure out how to address them. So, this year, we'll be working with businesses, and with states and localities to identify barriers in their laws. Fifth, is the area of copyright law.