Begin forwarded message:
From: eekid@aol.com
Date: October 23, 2008 10:09:29 PM EDT
To: dave@farber.net
Subject: President Bush signs anti-piracy bill, creates IP czar
President Bush signs anti-piracy bill, creates IP czar
U.S. President George W. Bush has signed an anti-piracy bill into law that will help companies protect their intellectual property (IP), like movies, software and music. He also created a new government intellectual property czar, who will serve as a high-level worker designed to be an "Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator" for the White House.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) supported the bill and are happy it was signed into law. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also supported the bill, which has seen multiple modifications before being signed into law.
"By becoming law, the PRO-IP Act sends the message to IP criminals everywhere that the U.S. will go the extra mile to protect American innovation," U.S. Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Tom Donohue said.
Civil and criminal intellectual property laws will be tightened, along with stricter penalties on IP violators.