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DOJ not happy about proposed IP law

15 December 2007 18:45 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 8 comments

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is apparently not very happy with proposed legislation in the House of Representatives intended to stiffen penalties for copyright violations and put an increased emphasis on enforcement of both criminal and civil intellectual property (IP) laws. While they're not complaining about the new punishments for copyright violation, according to Sigal Mandelker, deputy assistant attorney general, there's no need to add a separate IP enforcement office, as the bill currently before the House Judiciary Committee would do.

"We have a current structure � that works quite effectively," said Mandelker, adding that removing IP enforcement operations from the DOJ's criminal division "will disrupt important relationships within the criminal division and will make intradepartmental IP coordination more difficult." She also pointed out that the DOJ has already implemented more than 30 recommendations from a report they submitted, but "there was never any recommendation to create an entirely new division for IP."

Ironically, the DOJ's biggest concern about the legislation may be the biggest selling point for the entertainment industry. Mandelker expressed concern about the creation of a new IP related position that would be located in the White House. "We are always going to be concerned when you have somebody at the White House who may be in the position of directing our enforcement or what cases we do or don't do," she said. "That would be contrary to the long-standing tradition of the department making independent decisions regarding law enforcement."

Source: PC Magazine

Permalink to this article

Parliament considers changes to U.K. copyright law (9 January 2008)

New IP law would create new U.S. copyright enforcement agency (12 December 2007)

Pirate Act makes yet another appearance in the U.S. Senate (10 November 2007)

Lobbyists stage pro-copyright event in U. S. capitol (14 October 2007)

DoJ says net neutrality is a bad choice for consumers (7 September 2007)

No DoJ intervention in RIAA case (31 July 2007)

Attorney General wants to make "attempted" piracy a federal crime (30 June 2007)

Bill being issued to US Congress on DRM (12 January 2007)

House panel gets tough on P2P piracy and Spyware (8 September 2004)

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Discuss this article!
windsong (Junior Member) 16 December 2007 3:13
When Congress is in session, no ones freedom (or wallet) is safe.. [ + quote]
shummyr (Member) 16 December 2007 3:34
*Originally posted by windsong:* When Congress is in session, no ones freedom (or wallet) is safe.. So True the foumding fathers wpu;d be ashamed of the morons running the country [ + quote]
duckNrun (Member) 16 December 2007 7:40
*Quote:* *Originally posted by windsong:* When Congress is in session, no ones freedom (or wallet) is safe.. So True the foumding fathers wpu;d be ashamed of the morons running the country Heck the founders would probably be ashamed of the morons LIVING in the country not to mention those who voted these morons into office-- and that goes for BOTH parties. [ + quote]
erjl (Newbie) 16 December 2007 12:22
Putting an office of either a regulatory agency or a law enforcement agency in the White House makes no sense (as in lacks common sense). The previous three posts have it right. We currently have a triad of moronic leadership (the three stooges), Reid, Pelosi and Bush. Regardless of party this is why it's important for everyone to vote. [ + quote]
johnny121 (Newbie) 21 December 2007 7:42
Please don't defame "The Three Stooges" by using their name or likeness in comparison to our government. That truly is an insult- and the fact that it is [an insult]- is our real tragedy. [ + quote]
TeeLow (Newbie) 21 December 2007 10:38
*Originally posted by johnny121:* Please don't defame "The Three Stooges" by using their name or likeness in comparison to our government. That truly is an insult- and the fact that it is [an insult]- is our real tragedy. LMFAO! [ + quote]
emugamer (Member) 21 December 2007 12:25
The Founding Fathers would have been bought out by the MPAA and RIAA. Everyone has their price. [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 24 December 2007 7:52
This is just a waste of time for everyone. Has no direction or goal. [ + quote]