The Dept. of Justice is taking enforcement of intellectual property (IP) laws seriously but could do more to ensure IP protection remains a high priority, the DoJ Task Force on Intellectual Property concluded. The task force released a lengthy report Tues. proposing increased DoJ resources for IP and examined copyright legislation on the Hill. Without endorsing or opposing any legislation, it opposed the aim of a fair use bill by House Internet Caucus Co-Chmn. Boucher (D-Va.) and supported efforts to target inducement of copyright infringement.
The Dept. of Justice is taking enforcement of intellectual property (IP) laws seriously but could do more to ensure IP protection remains a high priority, the DoJ Task Force on Intellectual Property concluded. The task force released a lengthy report Tues. proposing increased DoJ resources for IP and examined copyright legislation on the Hill. Without endorsing or opposing any legislation, it opposed the aim of a fair use bill by House Internet Caucus Co-Chmn. Boucher (D-Va.) and supported efforts to target inducement of copyright infringement.
The Senate Fri. passed 2 copyright enforcement bills designed to respond to copyright infringement on P2P networks, including one that would give the Justice Dept. the authority to pursue civil cases against alleged infringing file-sharers.
The Justice Dept. announced a major international Internet piracy sweep Thurs. focused on “release groups” that help distribute pirated software, movies and music, often before the products are released to the public.
Piracy of DVDs, CDs and software does more than harm intellectual property industries, it funds organized crime and even international terrorism, witnesses told key House subcommittee Thurs.
Unprecedented international cooperation against copyright piracy resulted in what Attorney Gen. John Ashcroft called biggest bust of pirated software to date, announcing Tues. that federal law enforcement officials had executed more than 100 search warrants worldwide in 3 separate actions.