House passes Pro-IP copyright protection act
updated 10:15 am EDT, Fri May 9, 2008
Pro-IP passed by House
The House of Representatives on Friday approved the controversial Pro-IP Act, a bill which is designed to protect intellectual property by imposing more rigid punishment in the case of copyright infringement. Ars Technica writes that the bill passed with a vote of 410 to 10, but has yet to be voted on by the Senate. Among the details of the bill, one segment states that law enforcement agents would be able to seize property from those charched with copyright infringement.
"We applaud the members of the House of Representatives for passing the PRO-IP Act, H.R. 4279," said Dan Glickman, chairman of the MPAA. "It is a comprehensive, bipartisan measure that will strengthen our nation's economy and generate more jobs for American workers by bolstering protections for intellectual property. Given the difficult economic times we face, the PRO-IP Act is welcome by both the business and labor communities because it can improve our nation's economic outlook. I hope the Senate will move quickly to pass similar legislation."
While the bill was the subject of unanimous support by the House Judiciary Committee, some question whether President Bush would sign the bill as it is written, since the administration has reservations concerning its current form.
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Joined: Aug 2004
How effective?
And how effective is this bill really going to be, considering most of the piracy takes place OUTSIDE the U.S...a great deal in China?
I think is it also sad that the House played on the "poor, weak economy" idea to push their bill through.
Again, if most of the piracy takes place outside the U.S. (where it really cannot easily be enforced) how is this going to help our economy?