Senate Bill to Prevent File Sharing Stalls

Entertainment groups and consumer organizations were unable to reach a compromise over a Senate proposal aimed at manufacturers of file-sharing software commonly used to steal electronic copies of music, movies and computer programs.

The Induce Act, strongly supported by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), would make manufacturers of such software liable for inducing people to commit copyright infringement. Consumer groups and some computer companies have complained that the bill’s language is too broad and could apply liability to legitimate technology.