TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

White House Urges Copyright Changes: The Clinton Administration said that existing copyright law protections apply to materials flowing through computer networks, but it wants changes in the law to clarify those protections for electronic communications. Under the changes proposed in a report, the law would specify that electronic transmissions--just like printed books, records and home videos--would “fall within the exclusive distribution right of the copyright owner.” The recommendation would require congressional approval. The report’s primary author said the recommendation, if implemented, would not affect how home computer users and others now legally make electronic copies of data provided by computer services or the global computer network Internet, as long as the copies are for their private use.