Justice Dept. wants even stiffer laws for pirates

[Roundabout]

Justice Dept. pushes stiffer antipiracy laws


WASHINGTON--The Bush administration on Thursday announced that it is lobbying for new laws that would bump up criminal penalties for pirates, expand criminal prosecutors' powers and punish anyone who "attempts" to infringe a copyright.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, speaking at an antipiracy summit here hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the Department of Justice recently submitted to Congress a "legislative package" aimed at toughening up intellectual-property enforcement amid evolving technology.

According to a copy of the proposal obtained from the department, the measure would create a new crime called "attempting to infringe a copyright."

The proposal would also permit authorities to seize and destroy pirated and counterfeit goods--with a special nod to music, movies and digitally obtained materials. Also on that list are any goods used to produce pirated or counterfeit material, as well as property obtained with the proceeds of those goods.

In addition to serving possible prison time, the law would force those convicted of infringements to pay the copyright holder "and any other victim of the offense" a sum to compensate for out-of-pocket losses resulting from the crime.

The Justice Department is also seeking in its proposal greater latitude for prosecutors. Right now, it's only possible to enforce against copyrights that are registered with the government. The new proposal would make that true only in civil cases, allowing prosecutors to go after pirates regardless of whether the copyright is registered.

"The burden of checking whether each work was registered would substantially slow down investigations and hinder the government's ability to prosecute these violations, especially infringement of works owned by small businesses that have not had the time or resources to register," the department wrote in a document explaining its proposal.

Overall, the changes are necessary because new technology is "encouraging large-scale criminal enterprises to get involved in intellectual-property theft," Gonzales said, adding that proceeds from the illicit businesses are used, "quite frankly, to fund terrorism activities."

It was unclear Thursday how Congress would handle the proposal. A representative of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary said staffers had received and were reviewing the proposal.

Intellectual-property enforcement has been a recurring feature on the government's agenda this term, from increasing prison sentences for Net pirates to legislative fall-out in the wake of the Supreme Court's landmark file-sharing decision this summer to ongoing debate over the broadcast flag, a controversial device designed to prevent copying of digital content.

The Justice Department's hunger for increased antipiracy powers is hardly new. Last fall, it issued a report recommending other sweeping changes strongly favored by the entertainment industry.

Story Link

[Headbanger's Ball]

"attempting to infringe a copyright."

What a load of crap.

to fund terrorism activities

Another load.

[dvdguy4]

My take on The USA nowadays
Priority 1 is piracy
Priority 2 is terrorism

You dont get campaign contributions from terrorist

[SoCalMK]

I really hope the government does crack down more on piracy and spends all of its resources, time and effort to stop pirates. This way, I can start committing crimes of all other natures and the government won't even notice.

GOD I HATE THIS COUNTRY!

[dipstick]

The prisons are allready overcrowded. What are they going to do......release the rapists and and other dangerous criminals back into the streets to make room for the copyrite pirates?

When money talks, Government listens.

[Sabro]

Hmmm... wonder if they are going to go after the military as well.

I have two family members, one in the Air Force and another in the Navy and piracy is actually encouraged (off the record) to help keep moral up during training and war time activites.

Not that I condone piracy, but the troops can use the mil highspeed networks, and from what I hear, send alot of 'care' packages home to their friends and family.

But then again, they'll sue a 90 year old disabled woman that paid taxes and supported her country all her life, and, doesn't even have a computer....hmmm hehe

Sabro

[GullyFoyle]

Even though this is geared to organized crime bootlegs and knock offs you know that the small time p2p file sharer will bear the brunt of the this legislation. Just how many big time drug dealers ever see jail time? Or how many CEO's ever do time in REAL prisons?
What is truly strange is Republicans promote the entrepreneurial mindset. Unless it cuts into potential corporate crony earnings.

[lordsmurf]

Curb the politics, else the thread will be locked.

[Wile_E]

How about also stiffer laws for telemarketers? I'm on the Texas no-call list, and still get calls. I'd like to see telemarketers start being penalized, and have to pay us, for each call they make to a "no-call" listed number. $100 per call to someone on a no-call list, would stop them from calling people listed on the lists.

[SilverBlade]

a no spam law would be nice too. and a 'No-Spam" list.

[thecoalman]

$100 per call to someone on a no-call list, would stop them from calling people listed on the lists.

Not sure if the federal law has trumped it but PA encated this no-call list about 5 years ago. They may have been the first. The original law stipulated a $1000 fine for each violation, $3000 if the person was over the age of 60. Additionally the person who filed the complaint received 10% of the fine...

I haven't had a telemarketer call here since then.

[jimdagys]

In the US, there are three general categories of punishment for a crime.
1) All your property and money in your bank account is confiscated
2) All your property and money in your back account is confiscated and you are imprisoned for life
3) You are executed

[thecoalman]

In the US, there are three general categories of punishment for a crime.
1) All your property and money in your bank account is confiscated
2) All your property and money in your back account is confiscated and you are imprisoned for life
3) You are executed

And that is all she wrote for this thread......

[BobK]

In the US, there are three general categories of punishment for a crime.
1) All your property and money in your bank account is confiscated
2) All your property and money in your back account is confiscated and you are imprisoned for life
3) You are executed

I suppose that would cut down on jaywalking and littering. Especially if they both get #3.

[Dilbert135]

In the US, there are three general categories of punishment for a crime.
1) All your property and money in your bank account is confiscated
2) All your property and money in your back account is confiscated and you are imprisoned for life
3) You are executed

Hahaha, yeah right. Maybe you should live here before making a statement like that.