Dat Bill

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The Digital Audio Tape Recorder, or DAT, Bill was introduced to Congress in 1990 by Arizona Senator Dennis DeConcini. The aim of the bill was to prohibit the manufacture of digital audio tape recorders that did not have the copy management systems circulatory chips. More simply, its intention was to limit serial copying of DATs. The recording industry was a primary supporter of the bill to reduce the number of copyright infringements and stop lost sales that occurred from illegal copying. However, songwriters and music producers—unhappy with the absence of royalty taxes—initially opposed it. Only after Sony and other giants in the recording industry agreed to royalty provisions did the dissenters come around. With both parties satisfied, President George H. W. Bush signed the bill into law in 1992.