New U.S. Law against commercial piracy

In the middle of March George Bush put forward a proposal for a new law that aims to be tougher on pirate copying. Commentators maintain that this is the biggest change in this area of the law for 20 years. Those who break the law risk up to 20 years behind bars and USD 15 million in fines.

“Current law contains loopholes big enough to drive a truckload of counterfeit goods through,” says Joseph LaRocca, Vice President of the USA’s National Retail Federation (NRF). “This new law will close those loopholes and protect U.S. consumers from counterfeits that can range from cheap imitations of designer goods to unsafe products that threaten the health of children.”

Counterfeiters forced to cough up the profits
According to the new legislation, people found guilty of pirate copying will be forced to hand over any profits they have made and the equipment they have used in their operations. The courts will also be empowered to order the immediate destruction of any pirate copies that have been seized.

“Counterfeit products have caused significant damage to our members and their customers,” said Chris Kersting, President of SEMA, a trade organisation in the automotive industry. “The pirates exploit the intellectual property of our member companies, threaten the jobs of their employees and can destroy the brand and reputation of a company.”

In conjunction with the introduction of the new legislation, work is also being intensified between the various authorities dealing with this type of question. New staff are being employed, and specially trained prosecutors and FBI agents are being posted to American embassies in Asia and Eastern Europe.