Tech news blog - Gonzales proposes new crime: 'Attempted' copyright infringement | CNET News.com

This is absolutely unbelievable... while I understand that there needs to be some efforts to restrict copyright infringement and software piracy, there are so many loopholes in this damn thing that the cops are going to be able to do almost anything with your computer, including seize it and keep it, without any proof. All they have to do is say that you 'intended' to do something...

The IPPA would, for instance:

* Criminalize "attempting" to infringe copyright. Federal law currently punishes not-for-profit copyright infringement with between 1 and 10 years in prison, but there has to be actual infringement that takes place. The IPPA would eliminate that requirement. (The Justice Department's summary of the legislation says: "It is a general tenet of the criminal law that those who attempt to commit a crime but do not complete it are as morally culpable as those who succeed in doing so.")

* Permit more wiretaps for piracy investigations. Wiretaps would be authorized for investigations of Americans who are "attempting" to infringe copyrights.

* Allow computers to be seized more readily. Specifically, property such as a PC "intended to be used in any manner" to commit a copyright crime would be subject to forfeiture, including civil asset forfeiture. Civil asset forfeiture has become popular among police agencies in drug cases as a way to gain additional revenue, and it is problematic and controversial.

what happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Tech news blog - Gonzales proposes new crime: 'Attempted' copyright infringement | CNET News.com

Can anyone say "Big Brother"?