StrongBad and mendoman both used our news submit to tell us that two lawmakers are reviewing a bill that would put
file-sharers (Internet users who allow others to copy songs from their hard
drives) could face prison time:
 Sponsored by Michigan Rep. John Conyers and California Rep.
Howard Berman, the bill would make it easier to slap criminal charges on
Internet users who copy music, movies and other copyrighted files over
"peer-to-peer" networks.
In a series of hearings on Capitol Hill last spring, lawmakers
condemned online song swapping and expressed concern the networks could
spread computer viruses, create government security risks and allow
children access to pornography.
The Conyers-Berman bill would operate under the assumption that
each copyrighted work made available through a computer network was copied
by others at least 10 times for a total retail value of $ 2,500. That
would bump the activity from a misdemeanor to a felony, carrying a
sentence of up to five years in jail.
It would also outlaw the practice of videotaping a movie in the
theater, a favorite illicit method of copying
movies. |
The RIAA (surprise, surprise) has of course praised the new bill. Other
experts disagree with the bill saying that not all copyright infringement should
be treated as criminal. Read the complete article here.
Source: Yahoo! News
