Congress Unrolls Copyright Wiper By Mark Fleischmann December 17, 2007 — Look out, file sharers. Congress is about to enact draconian new legislation that would make penalties for copyright violation even stiffer.

The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act, or PRO IP Act, is cosponsored by reps. Lamar Smith (R-TX), Howard Berman (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)—to loud applause from the Motion Picture Association of America.

It would create a new bureaucrat to be known as the White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Representative, or WHIPER, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. This person would advise the president on intellectual property issues, both nationally and internationally. The bill would also create a joint strategic plan that would finger individuals who traffic pirated material.

The proposed law would increase fines involving compilations of stolen material, increase maximum penalties for repeat offenders, and allow the government to seize and auction off computers used in copyright crimes, much as it already does with the property of drug offenders. (Image: ava7.com.)