[kj] OT: Bush creates "Intellectual Property Czar" govt office

[B. Oliver Sheppard]

[Ah, so much government expansion lately, so hard to keep up with it 
all! This is ultimately kind of a shitty and big deal, but slipped under 
the radar on the news because of the financial mess. Sorry if already 
posted. -Oliver]


http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jidqSyVgjknlWuwN0mpY8VWCNL7w

Bush signs anti-piracy bill, creates IP czar

1 day ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush signed a bill on Monday 
which toughens penalties for copyright infringement, music and movie 
piracy and creates a high-level position of intellectual property czar.

The bill, which has been welcomed by trade groups such as the Recording 
Industry Association of America (RIAA), was one of a number of pieces of 
legislation signed by the president on Monday, the White House said.

The bill tightens civil and criminal intellectual property laws, imposes 
stricter penalties on violators and establishes the position of a White 
House-based "Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator."

It provides the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation 
with more resources to fight intellectual property crimes, which are 
estimated to cost US businesses as much as 250 billion dollars a year.

RIAA chairman Mitch Bainwol welcomed the new law after it passed the 
House of Representatives saying it was "music to the ears of all those 
who care about strengthening American creativity and jobs."