9. The bill (sec. 2, p. 3, lines 3-6) selectively permits the term 10. Computer programs and data bases often reside in chips. The bill may inadvertently sweep into its compulsory licensing 11. The copyright term under the bill would be computed It appears to ADAPSO that the above points raise a substantial question whether the agreed upon need for protection of semiconductor chips is best served through a proposed amendment of the Copyright Act. We believe that additional consideration must be given this question before specific refinements of the language of the proposed legislation are addressed. Bar Association of the City of New York - Member, Computer Law Committee Subcommittee Chairman, Software Protection Committee Industry Association of Data Processing Organizations Former Chairman, International Committee Chairman, Vendor Relations Committee Member of Board of Directors, Software Products Section and Keynote Speaker, Japanese Software Industry Association Meeting 1980. Speaker, Practicing Law Institute Conference on Computer Law Co-Chairman, United States, for First International Meeting for Data Processing Orgaanizations Barcelona, 1978. Seminar Chairman, Legal aspects of Computer License Agreements Barcelona, 1978. COOPERATIVE SEMICONDUCTOR RESEARCH CORPORATION October 31, 1983 The Honorable Robert W. Kastenmeier Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties and the Administration of Justice 2137 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Kastenmeier: Your subcommittee is currently considering the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1983 (H.R. 1028) sponsored by Rep. Don Edwards. I write on behalf of the Semiconductor Research Corporation to express our appreciation of your efforts to hold hearings on this bill and to urge you to support this essential legislation and move it on to speedy enactment. One of the major goals of the cooperative research currently sponsored by SIA member companies through the Semiconductor Research Corporation is the capability to automatically design semiconductor chips that represent the integration of literally millions of transistors onto a "chip" of silicon that is wafer-thin and about one quarter of an inch square. Manually, this task represents hundreds of thousands of man hours which is prohibitively expensive. The investment in research to automate the design process is negated if copyright protection is not granted under the law. As a formal statement of our position, we ask that this letter be entered into the record of your hearings on H.R 1028 Sincerely Larry W. Suney Executive Director LWS:mpr CC: Rep. Ed Zschau Rep. Don Edwards 300 PARK DRIVE, SUITE 215 • P.O. BOX 12053 • RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK NC 27709⚫ (919) 549-9333 American Electronics Association Government Operations Office 1612 K Street N W Washington DC 2,306 (202,33 8050 November 1, 1983 AEA The Honorable Robert Kastenmeier Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties and the Room B-2137, Rayburn House Office Building Dear Chairman Kastenmeier: AEA The American Electronics Association (AEA) supports the passage of H.R.1028, the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1983. represents over 2,300 member companies nationwide, and over 450 financial, legal and accounting organizations which participate as associate members. AEA companies account for 63 percent of the worldwide sales of U.S. based electronics companies. Approximately 72 percent of AEA companies are small businesses employing fewer than 200 people; and twelve percent are large companies employing more than 1000 people. For the electronics industry to remain competitive, it is imperative that semiconductor designers have legal protection from pirate firms that copy their designs. H.R.1028 would give semiconductors designers the protection necessary to continue the innovative progress that has contributed to the success of our industry. Passage of H. R. 1028 is particularly important at a time when new generations of semiconductor products will soon enter the market. Semiconductors must have legal protections as soon as possible if America is to keep its edge in the electronics field. AEA encourages your subcommittee to hold additional hearings on this legislation so that it can be further discussed and hopefully be passed as expeditiously as possible. Sincerely yours, Kenneth C.0. Hagerty Government Operations GENERAL ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR BUSINESS DIVISION GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY ONE MICRON DRIVE RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC 27709 ● (919) 549-3100 October 20, 1983 The Honorable Robert W. Kastenmeier Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties Dear Mr. Kastenmeier: The General Electric Company appreciates your Subcommittee's consideration of H.R. 1028, the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1983, and would like to add our support of the bill to the record of the hearings you have chaired. This bill is one which is particularly important at a time when a new generation of semiconductor products will soon enter the market. If these new chips are copied, it will cost the U.S. industry tens of millions of dollars per year and will certainly deter future innovation. We hope you will support H. R. 1028. With your support, the bill can soon begin to provide protection to firms in our industry. |