Most publishers aren't happy about the prospect. The Motion Picture Association of America is also lobbying Congress to issue voluntary licensing guidelines instead of taking a legislative approach. Security is one reason for concern. Once digital copies of works are transmitted over the Internet, they're more prone to piracy. As a caveat, Congress is demanding that colleges encrypt digital transmissions so students can't copy materials for personal use.
Money is another issue.
Colleges say they can't afford to pay licensing fees, since the bulk of their financial weight is behind marketing programs, a wise strategy considering the number of online programs has exploded from 22 three years ago, to more than 300 today. The opposition isn't buying that argument. No one in Congress is advocating legislation to eliminate payment for computers, Internet access, and faculty salaries. Unless the publishing, recording, and motion-picture industries can reach agreement with educators and soon, Congress may well step in. The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.