Electronics Makers, Studios Clash on Bill

Movie studios such as Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures clashed at a U.S. House committee hearing with electronics companies such as Sony Corp. over legislation to let consumers copy compact discs and DVDs for personal use.

Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, said the bill would open the door for people to illegally make thousands of copies for commercial sale without detection.

The bill, supported by electronics companies and consumer advocates, was introduced in January 2003 to refine the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The law created penalties for people who circumvent encryption or other copy-protection technology.