WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND ONE-HALF TO THE REVENUE STABILIZATION
ACCOUNT. The separate account is not subject to attachment or
other judicial process by any person.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1989.

May 25, 1989

The Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.

President of the Senate

State House

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland
Constitution, I have today vetoed Senate Bill 670.

This bill would expand current law which prohibits the
unauthorized recording, distribution, sale, or showing for
admission charge, of sound recordings to include videocassettes
or other technology which can record or store images.

The Attorney General has advised me that to the extent this bill
seeks to extend Maryland law beyond sound recordings to prohibit
reproduction of tapes and other media containing images, it is
preempted by federal law. Although some portions of the bill may
be severable, the fundamental thrust of the legislation is
thwarted by federal copyright law. Accordingly, I have decided
to veto Senate Bill 670.

A copy of the Opinion of the Attorney General is attached and
should be considered a part of this veto message.

Sincerely,

William Donald Schaefer

Governor

Senate Bill No. 670

AN ACT concerning

Recordings - Unauthorized Copying

- 4791 -