Senator Orrin Hatch (R - UT) is threatening to introduce a new copyright bill that would punish anyone who "intentionally aids, abets, induces, counsels, or procures" copyright infringement (INDUCE Act is Free Speech Killer). Two months ago, the Senator also introduced another copyright bill that would give the DoJ power to enforce civil copyright infringement (PIRATE Act Reveals Sen. Hatch as Strange Ally of Pornography Industry and PIRATE Act - Wiretaps for Civil Copyright Infringement?). Here is a press release about the PIRATE Act ... we should have seen the INDUCE bill coming (Judiciary Committee Reports Four Intellectual Property Rights Bills):
The Protecting Intellectual Rights Against Theft and Expropriation Act of 2004, the PIRATE Act, S. 2237, is an important legislative effort I joined Senator Leahy in sponsoring. This bill will give the Department of Justice the flexible enforcement powers needed to deal with the challenges posed by so-called peer-to-peer filesharing software. The design of this software seems to induce otherwise law-abiding people to violate federal laws relating to copyrights and distribution of pornography. As a result, it has been difficult for the Department to bring the moral force of the government to bear against the widespread piracy induced by this software. The PIRATE Act will ensure that the Department will have the option to impose civil penalties against users of filesharing software who are breaking federal laws, but may not warrant criminal prosecution. [emphasis added]
It's that evil software, seducing law-abiding citizens into degraded lives of pornography and copyright violations. It is criminals like Seth Finkelstein, who induces the otherwise law-abiding to violate the copyrights of censorware producers (INDUCE Act).
What's that old saying? "Give a man a book and he reads for a day. Teach a man to publish and he infringes copyright for a lifetime."
[Copyfight] Posted by ooblick at June 17, 2004 04:37 PM