Controversial anti-piracy bill signed into law
President Bush has signed into law a new, controversial anti-piracy bill that strengthens penalties against music and movie pirates and has resulted in criticism from the U.S. Justice Department, who say it undermines their authority.
The law will toughen legal measures against piracy and counterfeiting. Critics say it goes too far and will possibly punish people who haven’t infringed on any such law.
An "intellectual property czar" will report directly to the president on measures to better protect domestic and international copyrights. This is where the DOJ claims their authority is undermined. The czar may not be chosen by the end of Bush’s term, however, leaving the choice up to the next president, whether that be Illinois Senator Barack Obama or Arizona Senator John McCain.
The bill was backed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
