Rep. Rick Boucher of Virginia (pictured from his own Web site) worked on the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. He was clued-in to both sides, and saw the result as a compromise, between the need to protect copyright and the equal need to protect fair use.

The industry violated the agreement. The industry pushed judges and public opinion toward rejecting the very idea of fair use, equating even legitimate back-ups with "piracy."

So Boucher is trying to redress the balance. It's an uphill climb.

Jack Valenti, the powerful head of the motion picture lobby, told Congress the bill "legalizes hacking." This is a complete falsehood. But Valenti has the money to push such lies on the Congress, and those of us who are consumers don't.

Valenti will retire soon, but he'll be replaced by an equally-fierce advocate for the destruction of user rights. That I guarantee.

If you live in Boucher's district, next time you see him, show him some love for me.