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New Legislation on Criminalizing P2P File Transfer of Copyrighted Works

H.R. 2517 (introduced June 19 by Rep. Lamar Smith), the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2003, to enhance criminal enforcement of the copyright laws, educate the public about the application of copyright law to the Internet, and clarify the authority to seize unauthorized copyrighted works. In the bill language is the following statement:

  • Trafficking in copyrighted works through increasingly sophisticated electronic means, including peer-to-peer file trading networks, Internet chat rooms, and newsgroups, threatens lost jobs, lost income for creators, lower tax revenue, and higher prices for honest purchasers.
  • See these related articles for more information: New Bill Enlists FBI, DoJ in Copyright Battle and House bill would cast FBI as copyright Pinkertons.
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