TV & Video - Nov. 2, 1989

Berman Goes After the Box: Legislation that would outlaw “black boxes” used to override anti-copying protection on motion-picture videocassettes was introduced Wednesday in Washington by Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.). His bill goes after the “manufacture, import, sale or distribution of equipment dedicated to defeating copyright protection.” Berman noted that under present law “it is practically impossible” to reach the manufacturer of equipment designed to defeat anti-copying coding put on movie videos. “My bill would stop the trafficking in black boxes,” he said.