PIRATE and ART Acts Pass Senate

The Protecting Intellectual Rights Against Theft and Expropriation Act of 2004 (S. 2237) was passed by the Senate on June 25.  The somewhat controversial bill would let federal prosecutors file civil lawsuits against suspected copyright infringers. According to the Washington Post on June 25, a similar bill was approved the House in March. "'Differences between the two bills were minimal and could be easily resolved,' said Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a sponsor of the bill."

 

Also on June 25, the full Senate passed the Artists’ Rights and Theft Prevention Act (S. 1932) which increases penalties for distribution of pre-release copyrighted works, provides a means for copyright owners to be compensated for economic harm caused by the theft and release of their work, and criminalizes the use of camcorders in theaters.

 

Click here for a report from Reuters on both bills. 

 

Courtesy of William F. Heinze*
Thomas, Kayden, Horstemeyer & Risley, L.L.P.
100 Galleria Parkway, N.W., Suite 1750
Atlanta, GA 30339-5948  (USA)

 

Tel.:  (770) 738-2382
Fax:  (770) 951-0933
Mobile:  (404) 729-0729
E-Mail:  BillHeinze@tkhr.com (business)
E-Mail:  BillHeinze@yahoo.com (personal) 
E-Mail:  BillHeinze@tmo.blackberry.net (mobile)
Profile:  http://www.tkhr.com/Bill.Heinze 

I/P Updates:  http://billheinze.blogspot.com (RSS/Atom feeds)

*Admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Not admitted in Georgia.