Senator fuses controversial IP bills into big, bad package

By Julian Sanchez | Published: July 25, 2008 - 02:40PM CT Intellectual property legislation introduced in the Senate on Thursday would combine elements of two controversial IP enforcement bills: The , which has won Senate approval several times since its first introduction in 2004. The law would increase penalties for counterfeiting, empower federal prosecutors to bring civil suits against copyright infringers, create a federal copyright czar to coordinate IP enforcement, and provide for the seizure of property used to violate copyrights and trademarks. Like PRO-IP, the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act of 2008 would double statutory damages for counterfeiting, with damages as high as $2 million for "willful" trademark violations. It also empowers the president to appoint an Intellectual Property Enforcement... [read full story]