CCIA: Outlandish Copyright Proposals Breed Contempt, Undermine IP Law

File Under: News, 2007, Copyright

May 15, 2007

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' proposed copyright overhaul on behalf of the nation's record companies would in fact undermine intellectual property law, the Computer & Communications Industry Association said today.

Language sent to Capitol Hill by the Attorney General would enact dangerous and bizarre changes to copyright law. Among other things, the proposal would:

o    Create a new, undefined crime called “attempted” copyright infringement;

o    Authorize seizure and forfeiture of property involved in copyright violations - including, by the proposal's language, property owned by persons other than the alleged infringer.  This could include computers and other hardware of innocent Internet service providers whose customers may have violated copyright laws;

o    Permit wiretaps of anyone attempting copyright infringement, thus elevating the offense to the level of murder, drug dealing and other federal felonies;

o    Require life imprisonment for anyone who uses illegally copied software while “recklessly caus(ing) or attempt(ing) to cause death,” regardless of other circumstances of the crime.

“These proposals are extreme and outlandish,” CCIA President and CEO Ed Black said. “Will office workers be wiretapped for lingering too long near the photocopier? Will music fans be sent to prison if they fail to secure their digital devices to the satisfaction of the record companies?

“Outlandish proposals like this breed contempt for intellectual property and undermine the legitimacy of the nation's IP laws. Enforcing intellectual property laws against commercial pirates is an important policy goal at home and abroad.  However, producing ever more extreme laws is not the answer; enforcing the laws currently on the books is.”