The Induce Act, the anti-file sharing legislation being considered by US Congress, is to be redrafted following some strong lobbying by the Consumer Electronics Association.
The act is designed to make the companies who develop the P2P software consumers use to illegally share music and film files liable for the copyright violation they enable - ie to end the common defence these companies use, that they simply develop a digital distribution system, and that they are not responsible for what people choose to distribute via that system.
However, members of the CEA fear that the proposed act currently on the table is too far reaching, essentially placing liability for copyright violation onto the major electronics companies who make the digital music players consumers play their illegally download files on - and that could include Apple's iPod.
The internet service providers are also keen to ensure any legislation does not hold them liable for the copyright theft committed by their customers.
However, the CEA won't have complete control over the redraft. The US Copyright Office is also lobbying hard, and they reportedly want legislators to extend the liability to companies who distribute or sell technology used in the illegal downloading of music - which is basically any electronics store.