U.S. Government Working As an Accomplice to Stifle IP and the Internet for Big Media?
By Alexander Grundner |
December 7th, 2007
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On Thursday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Securing Adolescents From Exploitation-Online Act of 2007 (SAFE Act) [H.R.3791] 409 to 2, which would require anyone with an open or public Wi-Fi network to report any illegal activity or images passed through their router to a Cyber Tipline or face fines of up to $300,000 (say bye bye to FREE Wi-Fi hotspots if this turns into law), and now the House Judiciary Committee is introducing a new bill called Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2007 (PRO IP) [H.R.4279] that will, among other things, increase penalties on illegally downloading music from $30,000 per album to $30,000 per track (i.e. a 12 track album will now warrant a $360,000 penalty). But what’s most frightening about the proposed PRO IP Act is that “any computer or network hardware used to ‘facilitate’ a copyright crime could be seized by the Justice Department and auctioned off,” according to CNET blogger, Declan McCullagh. What’s more, the PRO IP Act could potentially shut down companies that offer multi-purpose devices (I’m guessing software, too) that may be misused by their customers.
To learn more, read:
PRO IP Act
EFF - “PRO IP Act” Aims to Increase Infringement Penalties and Expand Government Enforcement
Public Knowledge - Comment On Copyright Enforcement Bill
CNET - Major copyright bill boosts penalties, creates new agency
LIVEdigitally - A note to Nancy Pelosi regarding the PRO IP act
SAFE Act
CNET - House vote on illegal images sweeps in Wi-Fi, Web sites
Greg Wishart – 2 hours 47 minutes ago