A topic I asked Turty to post, but he didn't. Anyway, serious stuff now:Wikipedia's short entry on the law.Bush Signs Pro-IP Act Into Law The PRO-IP Act and Gaming President Signs Law Creating Copyright Czar
Wikipedia said the House of Representatives passed the bill 410 to 11. It was unanimous in the Senate. I was unaware of this law until I read the link Turty posted today.
So what do you all think of this law?
» Your attractive master.
» "Because I before E is a LIE!!!"
The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2007 ("PRO-IP Act of 2007", H.R. 4279), is a law that will increase both civil and criminal penalties for trademark and copyright infringement. The law will create a new executive branch office, the Office of the United States Intellectual Property Enforcement Representative (USIPER).Source:
Backed by the RIAA and MPAA, the PRO-IP Act has drawn criticism for its potential for extreme punishment. In its proposed state, the act could grant the government permission to seize all computers and compatible devices from a home if a single, pirated MP3 was discovered on one of the machines.Source:
The impact to the consumer is obvious. The simple fact of the matter is that I doubt there is a consumer anywhere in the US who has never downloaded or otherwise acquired a single thing in violation of someone's copyright. What this now means is that, for consumers, more or less anything that has come into contact with that pirated item can be seized by the government. The statute is worded in such a broad manner that it would be theoretically possible to seize all of the computers in a home or office if one pirated MP3 or piece of software was present. More importantly, the penalties have changed so that individual elements are now imputed as works.Source:
President Bush has signed the EIPRA (AKA the PRO-IP Act) and created a cabinet-level post of 'Copyright Czar,' on par with the current 'Drug Czar,' in spite of prior misgivings about the bill. They did at least get rid of provisions that would have had the DOJ take over the RIAA's unpopular litigation campaign. Still, the final legislation (PDF) creates new classes of felony criminal copyright infringement, adds civil forfeiture provisions that incorporate by reference parts of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, and directs the Copyright Czar to lobby foreign governments to adopt stronger IP laws. At this point, our best hope would appear to be to hope that someone sensible like Laurence Lessig or William Patry gets appointed.Source:
Wikipedia said the House of Representatives passed the bill 410 to 11. It was unanimous in the Senate. I was unaware of this law until I read the link Turty posted today.
So what do you all think of this law?
» Your attractive master.
» "Because I before E is a LIE!!!"
[This message has been edited by Aro (edited 10-21-2008 @ 00:48 AM).]