Bush signs controversial anti-piracy law

[akiratubo]

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE49C7EI20081013

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush signed into law on Monday a controversial bill that would stiffen penalties for movie and music piracy at the federal level.

The law creates an intellectual property czar who will report directly to the president on how to better protect copyrights both domestically and internationally. The Justice Department had argued that the creation of this position would undermine its authority.

Am I alone in thinking the "Intellectual Property Czar" is just a cushy position for someone's croney?

Brodsky argued that, at best, the bill was unnecessary because the recording and movie industry had the right to take accused infringers to court.

"There's already lots and lots of penalties for copyright violations," he said. "They've got all the tools they need."

Damn straight.

[trekgeezer]

At least they made them strip out the part about the DOJ actually suing people and collecting money for the RIAA and MPAA.

[Andrew]

This needs to be struck down by the courts, and I very much hope it is struck down.

[Rev. Powell]

This needs to be struck down by the courts, and I very much hope it is struck down.

I haven't read the law, but I don't see on what grounds it could be struck down.  From the report, all it seems to do is increase already existing penalties and create an advisory position.  I don't expect it to have any practical or noticable effect.  Most likely, it's just a lot of tax money wasted on another unnecesary cabinet-level position.