Stronger Anti-Piracy Laws Passed
A new RIAA supported bill as been signed by United States President, Geroge Bush JR which creates a position known as Intellectual Property Czar. This position means that said person will be reporting directly to the president as part of a new government office known as Office of the United States Intellectual Property Enforcement Representative.
The law contains the following key points:
* The law 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.
* It is called the PRO-IP Act
* The ‘czar’ position will not be filled before Bush leaves office.
* Preliminary punishments involve seizing of pirated copies and the device on which the copies are stored. Hefty fines may also follow.
The PRO-IP act was originally signed off on by the House of Representatives on May 8. It is now law thanks to the signature of President Bush.
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20 Comments on "Stronger Anti-Piracy Laws Passed"
Former Contributor
2. writes:
I didn't realize that this thing actually went anywhere. Last I heard it was stalled because of vague language that made it sound like burning a mixed CD or making a backup of a CD you already owned was punishable activity.
For anyone who is interested in some of the specifics there was an article about it last year at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22251370/
Oh yeah, and for the less mature folk out there, the agency that this established is called WHIPER. Go ahead and have fun with that.
Member
3. writes:
To me this is just BS,I mean I dont know where most live but where I live the only decent record store we have is FYE and their prices are outrageous a cd should not be $18.99 which most are in FYE so yeah until big record stores get it through their head to lower prices people are just gonna continue to dl music,which in my opinion the musicians and record labels need to find a way to use merchandising and selling tickets in a unique way if both are worried about record sales then they would atleast be making money from something.
Member
4. writes:
There are people selling heroin to 13 year olds, but this is important too.
I'm glad they're spending the time and money to get after a major problem like this. Good job Mr. President, but "Death Magnetic" isn't a weapon of mass destruction, you're looking in the wrong place again.
5. writes:
It's nice to see that with all the other stuff that people should be reporting directly to the president, that illegal music downloading and tablature (Yes, another reason this was posponed was for adding tablature from the internet to the list which they have been fighting to put on there for years) should make the list. Love seeing this country have its priorities straight... had to make sure they got Uncle Sam's hand in that honeypot of fines didn't they?
Former Contributor
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Member
9. writes:
"I didn't realize that this thing actually went anywhere. Last I heard it was stalled because of vague language that made it sound like burning a mixed CD or making a backup of a CD you already owned was punishable activity"
^^ Is it punishable activity, or did they get that cleared up?
Member
11. writes:
This is why I can't stand George Bush - well - one of many reasons. Before long, we won't have freedom of speech, or other rights, thanks to this guy. I don't why he is even concerned about illegal file sharing..it is such a stupid thing. Thank God - he is done in office after this year.
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Member
13. writes:
Like they honestly believe that record sells and movie sells are the backbone to our economy? The sad thing is - it appears that everybody in Congress is against piracy..House of Representatives, remember they are democrat, yet they follow Bush like a puppy dog to chow. I am sooooo happy GW is getting his hillbilly A$$ out the white house for good. I am ashamed to be even associated as a fellow Texan with that son of a bXtch!
Member
15. writes:
Yes post 14... GW apparently passed this because he is starting a CCM band (Like in Little Bush) after he out of office and doesn't want his music pirated. I mean, that HAS to be it right? Since every other decision he actually came out of vacation to make was self serving in some way.
Member
Member
17. writes:
Congress had to pass it first, then the president signed it into law. So, it was a multi-lateral waste of time and money. Just what we need, the creation of another government agency, right? And I don't think that the chair of any American agency should be referred to as 'Czar'!
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1. murder667 writes:
i dont understand raising fines and all that stuff. the average person couldnt afford to pay tit neway.
and besides that, with computers and the internet, illegal downloads will always happen no matter what you do.
they should just bite the bullet.