In response to the National Football League trying to ban churches from holding Super Bowl viewing parties, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has proposed new legislation.  The bill, which was introduce to the Senate on February 4, 2008, is still in the first stage of the legislative process, was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. 
    The bill, S. 2591, is intended to amend chapter 1, title 17 of the United States Code.  The proposed legislation, if passed, would allow nonprofit organizations to show live football games without being penalized under copyright law.  Section 110, title 17 of United States legal code outlines the exemptions of certain performances and displays from infringement of copyright law.  Specter proposes that in Section 110(5), a subparagraph (C) should be added to account for nonprofit organizations wishing to display football games.  The subparagraph specifies that transmission or retransmission of a professional football contest be exempted if no direct charge is made to watch it, no other money is collected by the organization during the game, and that the game is not further retransmitted.
    By proposing this legislation, Senator Specter is not only arguing against the National Football Leagues intended ban, but also taking action to protect churches and other nonprofit organizations from the NFL’s strict interpretation of copyright law.  Furthermore, the importance of this legislation is great.  If Specter’s bill is to pass, it will virtually end disputes between the National Football League and churches over the holding of Super Bowl viewing parties.   Thus, churches and other nonprofit organizations would have the legal right to hold these parties without violating copyright law.