“Hatch has long been a proponent of expanding intellectual property rights, and introduced the Senate version of the Copyright Term Extension Act in 1997.[86] Hatch believes intellectual property laws should, in general, more closely mirror real property laws, and offer greater protections to authors and creators.[86]
Hatch caused an overnight controversy on June 17, 2003, by proposing that copyright owners should be able to destroy the computer equipment and information of those suspected of copyright infringement, including file sharing, he stated that “This may be the only way you can teach somebody about copyrights.”[87] In the face of criticism, especially from technology and privacy advocates, Hatch withdrew his suggestion days later, after it was discovered that Sen. Hatch’s official website was using an unlicensed JavaScript menu from United Kingdom-based software developer Milonic Solutions. Milonic founder Andy Woolley stated that “We’ve had no contact with them. They are in breach of our licensing terms.” Shortly after the publication of that story in Wired magazine, the company that runs Hatch’s website contacted Milonic to start registration.[88][89]
On September 20, 2010, Hatch once again attempted to outlaw websites which could be used for trademark and copyright infringement through the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA). This bill would authorize the United States Department of Justice to blacklist and censor all websites that the department deemed to be dedicated to “infringing activities”.[90] “
days later, after it was discovered that Sen. Hatch's official website was using an unlicensed JavaScript menu from United Kingdom-based software developer Milonic Solutions.
Pretty funny. Typical political irony.
authorize the United States Department of Justice to blacklist and censor all websites that the department deemed to be dedicated to “infringing activities”
No chance of abuse with those proposals.
I have seen the same basic types of moves even in local government. The big fish always believe that they should have the authority to pulverize the little fish to “teach them a lesson”. The same type of reasoning often results in road rage incidents. This does not speak well of Hatch, it makes it appear that his moral compass went all Clinton on him. God rest his soul.