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Now Playing At A Court Near You
by Randy Barrett
Seldom has the Supreme Court heard two high-profile technology cases in one day. While last week's oral arguments in a case relating to regulation of high-speed cable Internet service appealed to geeks of many stripes, the file-sharing case MGM v. Grokster at the top of the fight card was clearly the more popular.
Like they were attending some Grateful Dead re-enactment, fans started congregating at 8 p.m. on March 28 -- the eve of oral arguments in the Grokster case -- to get in line for the show. Some 80 or more camped overnight on the sidewalk in sleeping bags, among them Alex Curtis, government affairs manager for the public-interest group Public Knowledge, which sided with peer-to-peer software maker Grokster. The case weighed whether companies like Grokster are liable for copyright infringement committed by their users.
Looking slightly dazed but pleased after the hearing, Curtis said his evening on the cement was well worth it.
That morning, Jack Valenti, the former head of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), tried to cut to the front of the lines for press and ticket holders, only to find his way blocked by scores of bodies ahead of him. "Do I have to wait in this line?" Valenti asked an acquaintance nearby. Apparently without any other options, Valenti turned and quietly went to the end of the queue. Earlier, he had tried to enter the front of the court house and was stopped by guards.
After some post-hearing spinning on the court steps, advocates for providing broad "fair use" rights to copyrighted content retired to the nearby Sewell-Belmont House for a celebratory luncheon of vegetable lasagna and Asian noodles sponsored by Public Knowledge.
Those hobnobbing included Morrison and Foerster lawyer Jonathan Band, American Library Association Legislative Counsel Miriam Nisbet, Consumer Electronics Association President Gary Shapiro, Public Knowledge President Gigi Sohn, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Executive Director Sheri Steele and EFF attorney Fred von Lohmann.
In some non-tech news, nuptials are in the offing for von Lohmann and EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn.
Former Rep. Turner Joins Law Firm
Former Rep. Jim Turner of Texas, who served as the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee last year, has joined the Washington office of Arnold & Porter as a partner.
Joining him at the firm is his former chief of staff, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, who will work as a senior policy and legislative adviser. Hurley has more than 12 years of Capitol Hill experience.
Turner, who also served as the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Terrorism Subcommittee, will focus on national security issues. He served four terms in Congress before opting to retire. Before being elected to Congress in 1996, Turner served in the Texas legislature and state government and practiced law.
"Jim is widely respected on both sides of the aisle in Congress and has proven abilities in building a successful public policy and lobbying practice," Arnold & Porter Chairman Michael Sohn said in a statement. "His skills will be of great value to our clients with a wide range of issues but particularly those involving homeland security and in the defense and aerospace industry."
In other news, former Hogan & Hartson partner Jeffrey Blattner now runs Legal Policy Solutions, his own consultancy for nonprofits.
Blattner enjoys an impressive resume, including a clerkship at the Supreme Court, a stint as chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee and a tour in the Justice Department working for former Microsoft trustbuster Joel Klein. He is an expert in constitutional law, antitrust, information technology, intellectual property and civil rights.
"I have had the good fortune to be involved in many fascinating legal policy matters over the past 20-plus years," Blattner said. "I am excited to be starting a new venture that will enable me to focus on what I enjoy doing most -- providing strategic advice on legal policy issues for nonprofit organizations and businesses, rather than practicing law or lobbying."
Blattner already has several clients he preferred not to name and a new office on K Street.
Members Named To CompTel/ALTS Board
The telecommunications lobby CompTel/ALTS this week named two new members to its board: Cindy Schonhaut and Scott Widham. Schonhaut is director of federal regulatory affairs for Level 3 Communications, and Widham is president of the carrier group at Broadwing Communications.
CompTel/ALTS Chairman Sherman Henderson welcomed both executives into the fold and praised their "outstanding record of commitment to the association and to the competitive telecommunications industry."
Schonhaut is a former FCC attorney who also held positions at ICG Communications and MFS Communications. Widham has been in the telecom and cable business for 25 years. He was the owner and operator of Capital Cable, a multi-system operator that was subsequently sold to Charter Communications. He also served as an executive vice president of Corecomm and was a director at MTV Networks.
Schonhaut and Widham's terms will expire in October 2005 when CompTel/ALTS plans to hold a general election to select its new board.
New Flack for Clear Channel
The ubiquitous Clear Channel Communications announced that it has created a position of senior vice president for communications and named Lisa Dollinger to the post.
Dollinger has been with the company since 2003, doing public relations for Clear Channel's radio unit, which she burnished nicely, CEO Mark Mays said. "Through Lisa's unfailing instincts and leadership, our company is known today as an innovative leader and positive change agent."
Clear Channel owns more than 1,200 radio stations that reach an audience of 105 million. The company is planning a move into Internet radio in May.
In other PR news, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., named Lisa Miller as his new deputy communications director, and Janelle Carter has been tapped as his speechwriter. Both come from the Commerce Department, where Miller was deputy director of public affairs and Carter served as deputy director of speechwriting for former Secretary Donald Evans.
Hastert also promoted his former speechwriter, Larry Farnsworth, to deputy press secretary.
Hello, I'm Now Representing ...
Michael Tongour of Tongour, Simpson Holsclaw has filed to lobby for VSNL Telecommunications. Tongour will be trying to persuade regulators that VSNL's planned purchase of Tyco Global Network is a great idea.
Karl Gallant and Tony Rudy of the Alexander Strategy Group will be lobbying for ValueClick and DoubleClick on a bill, H.R. 29, aimed at secretly installed computer "spyware."
Meanwhile, Blank and Rome's Barbara Comstock will be representing MPAA on intellectual property issues related to the Grokster case. And Gary Slaiman of Swidler Berlin will be representing WilTel Communications on issues related to a possible rewrite of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.
New At Technology Daily
Staff Writer Fresia Rodriguez Cadavid will cover e-government, taxation and gambling issues. Michael Martinez also is on board helping with the telecom beat.
Quote of the Week
"I was there the first time a Supreme Court justice said, 'What about the iPod?'"
-- EFF's Fred von Lohmann, recounting his favorite moment from the MGM v. Grokster oral arguments held March 29.
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