House subpanel updates video rental privacy law

The House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on Intellectual Property passed a bipartisan bill on Tuesday that would allow video rental companies to share information on what movies users watch or recommend on social networks.

The bill is an update to the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) of 1998, which was passed by Congress after the 1987 battle over the nomination of Judge Robert Bork to the Supreme Court. At the time, a Washington newspaper obtained a list of video tapes the Bork family rented from its neighborhood store, sparking outrage.

The commercial video distribution landscape has changed dramatically since 1988," said Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.). With today's technology, consumers can quickly and efficiently access video programming through a variety of platforms, including through Internet Protocol-based video services, all without leaving their homes."

Goodlatte said the bill updates the VPPA to reflect the reality of the current video market, allowing video providers to share information on consumers' viewing habits if they so choose.

A firm must obtain a consumer's consent before sharing any information on a customer's viewing preferences, but users can opt in to ongoing sharing of their favorite movies or TV shows without having to provide consent each time they rent a movie. Consent can both be provided and withdrawn through the Web.

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