Subversive Pessimist
13th October 2004, 12:25
Herald Sun: US crackdown on film, music piracy (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11059584%255E1702,00.html)
US crackdown on film, music piracy
From correspondents in Los Angeles
13oct04
THE US announced today a tough global crackdown on film and musical piracy targeting counterfeiters and their customers in an assault modelled on the wars on drugs and terror.
US Attorney General John Ashcroft unveiled the aggressive new offensive on criminal piracy in Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood as well as much of the US music industry.
Unveiling recommendations from a body set up by his Department of Justice to protect intellectual property rights, Mr Ashcroft said he was planning legislative and regulatory assaults on music and film thieves.
"Intellectual property theft is a clear danger to our economy and the health, safety, and security of the American people," he said in prepared remarks to be read at a press conference.
"With the recommendations put forward by the task force, the department is prepared to build the strongest, most aggressive legal assault against intellectual property crime in our nation's history," he said.
The Department of Justice's Task Force on Intellectual Property issued 55 pages of recommendations aimed at protecting the recording and cinema industry from an estimated $US250 billion ($341 billion) in annual piracy losses.
The report, compiled by a dozen top Justice Department officials over the past seven months, calls for a crackdown on all offenders from solo operators to international crime rings that are cost US businesses dearly.
Among the recommendations to be implemented are a proposal to charge and prosecute intellectual property crimes under federal laws as much as possible, in the same way the US government targets organised crime, fraud and illegal importation, such as drug trafficking.
The task force proposed a dozen changes to rules governing criminal enforcement of intellectual property law and also called for the opening of five new anti-piracy offices across the US.
Intellectual property industries make up approximately six per cent of the US gross domestic product, employ more than five million people, and contribute $US626 billion ($854.26 billion) to the US economy, Ashcroft said.
The growing value of intellectual property coupled with the ease and low cost of copyright infringement via means such as the internet has significantly boosted the threat of intellectual property theft in recent years.
"Well-organised criminal enterprises have recently begun to increase the scale, scope, and sophistication of international theft and counterfeiting," the Department of Justice said in a statement.
"Given the simplicity of disseminating millions of copies of stolen software, music, video, and other products and programs around the globe with a single computer click, and given the inconsistent enforcement of existing laws worldwide, it is imperative that intellectual property rights be reaffirmed and vigorously protected," it said.
US crackdown on film, music piracy
From correspondents in Los Angeles
13oct04
THE US announced today a tough global crackdown on film and musical piracy targeting counterfeiters and their customers in an assault modelled on the wars on drugs and terror.
US Attorney General John Ashcroft unveiled the aggressive new offensive on criminal piracy in Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood as well as much of the US music industry.
Unveiling recommendations from a body set up by his Department of Justice to protect intellectual property rights, Mr Ashcroft said he was planning legislative and regulatory assaults on music and film thieves.
"Intellectual property theft is a clear danger to our economy and the health, safety, and security of the American people," he said in prepared remarks to be read at a press conference.
"With the recommendations put forward by the task force, the department is prepared to build the strongest, most aggressive legal assault against intellectual property crime in our nation's history," he said.
The Department of Justice's Task Force on Intellectual Property issued 55 pages of recommendations aimed at protecting the recording and cinema industry from an estimated $US250 billion ($341 billion) in annual piracy losses.
The report, compiled by a dozen top Justice Department officials over the past seven months, calls for a crackdown on all offenders from solo operators to international crime rings that are cost US businesses dearly.
Among the recommendations to be implemented are a proposal to charge and prosecute intellectual property crimes under federal laws as much as possible, in the same way the US government targets organised crime, fraud and illegal importation, such as drug trafficking.
The task force proposed a dozen changes to rules governing criminal enforcement of intellectual property law and also called for the opening of five new anti-piracy offices across the US.
Intellectual property industries make up approximately six per cent of the US gross domestic product, employ more than five million people, and contribute $US626 billion ($854.26 billion) to the US economy, Ashcroft said.
The growing value of intellectual property coupled with the ease and low cost of copyright infringement via means such as the internet has significantly boosted the threat of intellectual property theft in recent years.
"Well-organised criminal enterprises have recently begun to increase the scale, scope, and sophistication of international theft and counterfeiting," the Department of Justice said in a statement.
"Given the simplicity of disseminating millions of copies of stolen software, music, video, and other products and programs around the globe with a single computer click, and given the inconsistent enforcement of existing laws worldwide, it is imperative that intellectual property rights be reaffirmed and vigorously protected," it said.