IP Community Capitalizes On 'Pirate Day'
Argh Matey! The Institute for Policy Innovation is using International Talk Like a Pirate Day, which is recognized annually on Sept. 19, to push for passage of legislation that would clamp down on intellectual property crimes. Unlike the amusing holiday that pays homage "to Cap’n Slappy and Ol’ Chumbucket," IPI says piracy is no laughing matter because it costs the country $58 billion per year.
"At a time when policy makers must bring all hands on deck to confront the threat of piracy, a group of Senate Republicans could stall legislative efforts to enhance intellectual property resources," IPI said in a press release. "The proposal, while likely needing some work to ensure that Internet companies do not unjustly bear a burden for others’ bad acts, would provide law enforcement resources for finding and catching thieves, and would make prominent a federal coordinator to oversee enforcement of the Constitutional right to intellectual property."
The bill in question was introduced in July by Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, ranking member Arlen Specter and others and is being fast-tracked to the Senate floor. But Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Jim DeMint, R-S.C., Senate Minority Whip Kyl and Finance ranking member Charles Grassley have concerns. Read CongressDaily's latest coverage here.
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Intellectual Property
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