First Amendment

July 10, 2008

Both bodies of Congress are currently considering legislation to further protect intellectual property.  The House has already passed H.R. 4279, the PRO-IP Act, which is similar in some ways to both S. 522, the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act, and S. 2317, the IP Enforcement Act of 2007.
  

As MPA members continue to move into a broader array of distribution platforms, protection of intellectual property is of ever increasing importance.  The bill would look to curb intellectual property violations through a combination of methods, ranging from Executive level coordination of enforcement efforts to increased civil action authority for the Department of Justice.  The would also work to develop a more effective national strategy to combat counterfeiting and piracy.

Currently, the Senate bills await approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee.  MPA supports improved intellectual property protection and will continue to monitor these legislative efforts.