ARS Technica reports the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act of 2008 (s3325) got approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee by 14-4 vote. If passed into law this empowers the Justice Department of the USofA to litigate civil suits (and seize property) on behalf of IP owners (corporate interests).

ARS Technica reports “Critics have blasted this provision as a gift of free, taxpayer-funded legal services to content owners”.

Apparently the US government has decided that they need to create a police force to enforce copyrights. Generally, these are civil matters (not criminal) that are settled with (private investigations and) lawsuits. I guess the big media companies aren’t making enough money, so the USofA may create a new police force to seize personal property and harass citizens so that big business can make more profits.

It won’t stop international copyright infringers… do we really want the Department of Justice to become the enforcement arm for big business? It is not the job of the government to enforce copyright, that’s always been the job of the copyright holder.

You can read the ARS Technica article here, or you can read the legislation here.

Sponsor
Sen. Patrick Leahy [D, VT]

Co-Sponsors
Sen. B. Evan Bayh [D, IN]
Sen. Benjamin Cardin [D, MD]
Sen. John Cornyn [R, TX]
Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA]
Sen. Arlen Specter [R, PA]
Sen. George Voinovich [R, OH]
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D, RI]

On a side note, at least it’s a bi-partisan attempt to apply criminal penalties to  what is usually a civil offense, it’s nice to know that both parties love that corporate money…