Anti-Piracy Efforts Rise with Controversial New Anti-Piracy Law

240w ago - President Bush signed a new anti-piracy law heavily backed by the RIAA and MPAA today that establishes an IP Czar who will report directly to the president.

Primarily aimed at better protecting worldwide copyrights, the law boasts strengthening criminal laws against counterfeiting and piracy. The first IP Czar is expected to be named around the end of President Bush's final term of office.

To quote: The law also toughens criminal laws against piracy and counterfeiting, although critics have argued that the measure goes too far and risks punishing people who have not infringed.

The Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association of America backed the bill, as did the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"By becoming law, the PRO-IP Act sends the message to IP criminals everywhere that the U.S. will go the extra mile to protect American innovation," said Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.