NCJ Number
95456
Date Published
1981
Length
71 pages
Annotation
Hearing transcripts examine the magnitude and consequences of copyright infringements and discuss the inadequate penalties of the Piracy and Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 1981.
Abstract
The text of S.691 -- a bill to amend titles 17 and 18 of the United States Code to strengthen the laws against record, tape, and film piracy and counterfeiting -- is presented. Renee L. Szybala, Special Assistant to the Associate Attorney General, states the Justice Department's support for the bill and suggests that the bill's definition of 'trafficking' be revised to cover those who offer counterfeits for sale and transport counterfeits. In addition, she suggests that the bill be revised to include the forfeiture provisions currently in 18 USC 2318 (b) and (c). James Bouras, Vice President and Deputy General Attorney for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Inc., cites his organization's support for S.691 as well as the support of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Bouras explains that S.691 would bring criminal copyright infringement into title 18 of the criminal code and through the imposition of fines and jail terms, would deter the organized criminals who now control the operations. Twenty-four footnotes are included, as are lists of RIAA and MPAA members. The text of an INTERPOL resolution urging international cooperation in investigating cases of traffic in stolen or unlawfully duplicated movies and records is provided, as is the text of a related resolution from the World Intellectual Property Organization.