Reports summarizing the Bush Administration’s newest IP reform proposal — ratcheting up criminal penalties — offer some interesting, even scary, scenarios. Among other things: There is the proposal to criminalize “attempted” copyright infringement (hands off of that keyboard!), and there are special privileges accorded to copyright owners with respect to detection of the attempted importation of bootleg CDs — privileges not available to owners of copyrights with respect to bootleg DVDs, or bootleg software.
Links:
- Wired coverage
- DOJ news release
- The proposal itself (6 mb .pdf)
- CNet
Totally weird that this is a priority right now. It is seems to have little chance of passing and is just asking for bad press. At least COPA had a “law & order” story to go with it.
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