Bush signs controversial anti-piracy law

Reuters India ^ | 10/14/2008

[Ultra Sonic 007]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. 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.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

To see how stupidly broad the wording of this article, reading the following analysis at Joystiq.

Plus, the RIAA is involved, and things are usually sticky when they're involved.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Ping of interest.

[rabscuttle385]

Great. We can protect the **AA fat cats and hedge funds on Wall Street but we can’t even deal with Mexican military incursions on our southern border.

[mysterio]

There are some really neat forfeiture clauses in this legislation.

This bill is a piece of ****. Not surprised Bush signed it.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

“the wording of this article” should be “the wording of this legislation is”. Bleh.

[null and void]

Is there an over/under for how long it will take team 0bama to start using this to suppress free speech?

I’m going with noon EST tomorrow.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Eric Blair for President 2008

"Vote for me. I promise to do absolutely nothing and leave everyone the hell alone. You can keep your money and your liberty. My record and my entire career demonstrates a strong track record of doing nothing. Just ask my wife. I don't do the dishes, take out the garbage or mow the lawn... If you want nothing and don't want any Gubmint Cheese, 100% home financing from ACORN courtesy of the Community Reinvestment Act or handouts, I'm your candidate!."

I'm Eric Blair and I approve this retarded message.

Good night.

[mylife]

RIAA can kiss my Irish bum.They are Mafia

[rwfromkansas]

Stick it up your ass MPAA and RIAA.

I will archive a copy of a DVD I bought in response to this stupid law, you thugs.

[conservative cat]

No words, just: AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!

[Slings and Arrows]

---

[Alex Murphy]

ping to read later

[familyop]

"RIAA can kiss my Irish bum.They are Mafia"

Any fellow bum of Irish descent who also finally rejects our historically ethnic neighbors in the Mafia is a potential friend of mine. ;-)

[nothingnew]

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

Costs the US??????? I'm gonna take a wild guess and say this is about tax $$$ not coming in from sales.......think I'm wrong?

FMCDH(BITS)

[bamahead]

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..."



Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!

[Gasshog]

bump4later

[AnotherUnixGeek]

"We are in the middle of something of a war here -- what some call "the copyright wars"; what the late Jack Valenti called his own "terrorist war," where the "terrorists" are apparently our kids."

Lawrence Lessig, in an article on copyright which makes a great deal of sense to me.

[kittycatonline.com]

Intellectual piracy? What!? I was hoping W had commissioned General Petraeus to go to Somalia and blow the pirates off the map!

[kittycatonline.com]

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

No, millions of people taking out ridiculous home loans they can't possibly afford is costing the US a trillion dollars. Conunterfeiting and piracy cost mostly Liberal Hollywood types some money, but judging by their donations to Obama, they've obviously got billions to spare, so they should instead shut the heck up and get used to their Fearless Leader's socialist ways and give their music and videos away for free.

[BlazingArizona]

U.S. 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.

Maybe...Bush is trying to see if he can drive his poll percentage below zero? This would beat even Carter.