WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 3155, The Intellectual Property Enhanced Criminal Enforcement Act of 2007

Comment by Gene (December 13, 2008, 01:00:00)

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Severe actions by the public like jury nullification has to begin. Both Directv and the RIAA have sued those they knew were innocent. When you sue an innocent person you have had to lie in the court complaint. The act of lying in a court complaint to force settlement money is a crime. The victim of that crime then asks government to protect them against the fraudulent filing. The plea oif the crime victim falls on deaf ears. Justice does nothing to assist in arresting directv or RIAA for fraudulent court filing for gains. In order to put Justice on the right side of the law and protect innocent people, people need to do just what justice has done in these cases. Ignore Justice. The next time you are a Juror or a witness, ignore justice just like justice has done to those innocent people sued by directv and the RIAA. When enough jurors and witness ignore justice, then justice will have to get back to there job of protecting innocent people from such fraudulent lawsuits....

Comment by Bill (July 30, 2008, 01:00:00)

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

I'm taking a list of everyone who supports this bill with me when I vote in November. I am voting AGAINST every person who supports it. I own 700+ CDs and 700+ DVDs and it sickens me that I ever gave those A-hole companies a penny of my money. I hate being treated like a criminal by an industry I supported financially. I'm going to do my small part to get their lackey puppets out of our government. It's time for a BIG change....

Revision by webmaster (November 2, 2007, 01:00:00)

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 3155 would amend titles 17 and 18, United States Code, to strengthen the protection of intellectual property.

Detailed Summary

Intellectual Property Enhanced Criminal Enforcement Act of 2007 - Makes copyright registration requirements applicable to only civil (not criminal) copyright infringement actions.

Authorizes the court, in civil copyright infringement actions, to: (1) order the impounding of records documenting the manufacture, sale, or receipt of items; and (2) determine that parts of a compilation or derivative work constitute separate works in assessing statutory damages.

Establishes criminal violations for any attempt or conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement, with the same penalties as prescribed for the offense.

Deems the unauthorized importation or exportation of copies or phonorecords to be an infringement of the exclusive right to distribute, in certain circumstances.

Includes within the definition of "traffic in," for copyright infringement purposes, to import, export, or possess with intent to transport, transfer, or otherwise dispose of.

Increases the penalties for criminal copyright offenses, including: (1) criminal copyright infringement; (2) unauthorized recording of a motion picture; and (3) trafficking in counterfeit goods or services.

Provides for forfeiture of any property constituting or derived from proceeds of civil copyright infringement. Requires the court to order restitution for victims of criminal copyright infringement.

Directs the Attorney General to: (1) create an operational unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist in the investigation and coordination of intellectual property crimes; (2) implement a program to train FBI agents in the investigation and prosecution of such crimes; (3) assign federal prosecutors to Department of Justice (DOJ) offices in Hong Kong and Budapest to coordinate international enforcement of intellectual property laws; and (4) create a task force to implement a plan to investigate and prosecute international organized crime syndicates involved in theft of intellectual property.

Authorizes additional funding through FY2011 to investigate and prosecute criminal activity involving computers.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 8/10/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (September 5, 2007, 01:00:00)

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 3155 would amend titles 17 and 18, United States Code, to strengthen the protection of intellectual property.

Detailed Summary

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 8/10/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)

Status as of August 10, 2007

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

8/10/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Status as of August 10, 2007

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

8/10/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Comment by wvhillbilly (August 6, 2007, 01:00:00)

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT

If this passes, they better start building prisons on every block, because they're going to need them. We're all going to be criminals. Seriously, why does content need absolute, total protection for 70 years after the author is dead? By the time it enters the public domain, if it ever does (every time the copyright on Mickey Mouse is about to expire the term gets extended another 20 years), the stuff is going to be so old it will be useless to anyone, if it survives at all. And to criminalize every possible use of copyrighted material is going to defeat the purpose of having or creating it in the first place....

Comment by Jim (July 30, 2007, 01:00:00)

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

This bill is so far over the top it makes me want to cry. Not only does it propose to criminalize a routine civil infraction, but it proposes to criminalize even the ATTEMPT to make a civil infraction. Stop this bill now....

Comment by JR from Dallas (July 30, 2007, 01:00:00)

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

This is a bad piece of legislation, obviously pandering to the RIAA and MPAA. It is time to stop treating the average consumer like a criminal....

Comment by Hmmm.... (July 30, 2007, 01:00:00)

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

So if I attempt to tune into a cable channel I haven't subscribed to (like pushing the wrong numbers on the remote by accident), and my cable box is connected to a DVD or video recorder, did I "attempt to copy" something?...

Comment by Who is running this country? (July 30, 2007, 01:00:00)

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

When did we elect the RIAA and the MPAA to office? It is offensive that these (private) organizations are allowed to continue to exercise the control they have obtained over this government. They are not happy with controlling the direction of technology (Digital Rights Management - in all of its insidious forms), but now they want to control the judicial system as well. With their heavy handed approach to copyright enforcement, I am surprised that they didn't have their friends (Gonzales, Chabot, et. al) include a public flogging provision in the proposed legislation. Word to Washington - get busy with the critically important matters facing this country and let the lobbyists fight their own battles....

Comment by Alvin (July 29, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

It's bad enough that Steven Chabot is seen by may Ohioans as the South end of a North bound horse, now he has to prove it once again....

Comment by Robert (July 29, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Stop worrying about RIA profits and do something about Darfur....

Comment by Jeff (July 29, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

The pursuit of liberty, huh? I understand Montana more and more each and every day....

Comment by Nick (July 29, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

We would be one step closer to a real-life Minority Report scenario....

Comment by feldie (July 29, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

What's the big surprise. It's just another way of filling prisons. We do it with drug laws and now with the kids who used to be the customers of the recording industry. Put em in jail and keep the unemployment rate low. Cynical, huh?...

Comment by tack (July 29, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Looks like the RIAA has another corrupt politician in their pocket. Listen to the public, we DO NOT want file sharers treated as criminals....

Comment by Just a lowly little peaon (July 28, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

just more proof that the lobbyist can buy anyone and anything...

Comment by brwyatt (July 28, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

This will just make it easier for the RIAA to make more money from copyright abuse. Any intelligent person paying attention to what the RIAA has been doing, would know that several times the RIAA has been suing obviously innocent persons (don't have a computer or even know what file sharing is) all just to enlarge their already bloated salaries! How much you want to bet that Steven Chabot got a healthy check from the MAFIAA (RIAA)?...

Comment by Mike (July 28, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

It just looks like we are attempting to choke technical and artistic innovation by increasing copyright law. As we increase the body of machine searchable Intellectual Property and with expanding bounds of what includes copyright infringement. We are creating a situation where only the rich can innovate and new innovators will be punished by the entrenched corporate interests. Check this for a academic paper on optimal copyright length. http://www.rufuspollock.org/economics/papers/optimal_copyright.pdf...

Comment by Overcast (July 28, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Next - even *thinking* about thinking about copyright violation will be punishable....

Comment by Keogh (July 28, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Why don't you work on something that is a real problem to this country? Listed below are a few suggestions. 1. Ending the war in Iraq. 2. Ending illegal immigration. 3. Tax relief for the middle class. 4. Corruption in our political system. I am sorry, I forgot, you are not getting paid by some lobbiest to work on something important. Our government is a waste. "I love my country, but I had the government"...

Comment by congressive (July 28, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

This guy should be jailed for stealing Gonzales' idea....

Comment by eric (July 28, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

This is the most horrible idea I've ever seen. I've recently discovered that even the most upscale families that do not believe in pirating software also do NOT see any wrong in downloading a few songs from time to time. These will be the people to drive their Congress critters to working at Mick D's. So good luck with that bill. We the People will be fighting it every step of the way....

Comment by Alberto Gonzales (July 28, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EDT

Hey, that was MY idea! But I suppose it'll go further if some other *sshat introduces it. I say go for it. :-)...