Bush signs controversial anti-piracy law

[Hairbautt]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush signed into law on Monday a controversial bill that would stiffen penalties for movie and music piracy at the federal level.

The law creates an intellectual property czar who will report directly to the president on how to better protect copyrights both domestically and internationally. The Justice Department had argued that the creation of this position would undermine its authority.

The law also toughens criminal laws against piracy and counterfeiting. The Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association of America backed the bill, as did the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "By becoming law, the PRO-IP Act sends the message to IP criminals everywhere that the U.S. will go the extra mile to protect American innovation," said Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Counterfeiting and piracy costs the United States nearly $250 billion annually, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Richard Esguerra, spokesman for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said he was relieved to see lawmakers had stripped out a measure to have the Justice Department file civil lawsuits against pirates, which would have made the attorneys "pro bono personal lawyers for the content industry." But the advocacy group Public Knowledge had argued that the law went too far, especially given that fair use of copyrighted material was already shrinking.

Public Knowledge particularly opposed a measure that allowed for the forfeiture of devices used in piracy. "Let's suppose that there's one computer in the house, and one person uses it for downloads and one for homework. The whole computer goes," said Public Knowledge spokesman Art Brodsky. Brodsky argued that, at best, the bill was unnecessary because the recording and movie industry had the right to take accused infringers to court. "There's already lots and lots of penalties for copyright violations," he said. "They've got all the tools they need." (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Bernard Orr)

Source: Reuters
Related: Bush signs RIAA-backed intellectual-property law

[thewizeard]

Has Bush actually learnt to write? incredible, and that within two terms as president.!!! What else has he learnt to do/be, how about honesty? Has he learnt that yet?

[100%]

"controversial " is an interesting adjective in relation to his methods.

His methods are always controversial.

[mbucari1]

I guess if you can't get a "war czar", an intellectual property czar will have to do.

[Smith]

Its a good day to live in canada.

[respawn40]

And a bad day for those who live in the U.S.

[nemrac]

Yah, but what happens in the US doesn't take long to make its way north.

[ulun64]

Bush really know how to turn US into a police state.

[thewizeard]

Bush really know how to turn US into a police state.

...which is exactly why one should never vote for teh republicans, they are not to be trusted. Rather have a Clinton type that enjoys blow-jobs in the Rose-Garden..

Erm...time for a Sioux president.

Bush and Blair should both be sent to Irak for trial and then hung!

[respawn40]

Bush really know how to turn US into a police state.

...which is exactly why one should never vote for teh republicans, they are not to be trusted. Rather have a Clinton type that enjoys blow-jobs in the Rose-Garden..

Erm...time for a Sioux president.

Bush and Blair should both be sent to Irak for trial and then hung!

I think it's extremely ignorant to categorize all Republicans as a Bush.