Intellectual Property Enhanced Criminal Enforcement Act of 2006

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IntroducedPassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law (gold)Resolution agreed to (full, dark)Failed or vetoed (gray)

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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 109th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

R SensenbrennerSponsor

2 cosponsors · 2 R

R Coble LS

R Smith

2 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jul 27, 2006

Intellectual Property Enhanced Criminal Enforcement Act of 2006 - Amends federal copyright law to: (1) provide that copyright registration requirements apply to civil (not criminal) infringement actions; (2) allow a court to issue a protective order to prevent disclosure of seized records relating to copyright infringement; (3) allow a court to treat parts of a copyrighted work as separate works for purposes of assessing statutory damages; (4) impose criminal penalties for attempts and conspiracies to commit copyright infringement; and (5) prohibit importing and exporting of infringing copies of copyrighted works.

Amends the federal criminal code to increase penalties for: (1) trafficking in counterfeit labels or packaging; (2) criminal infringement of copyrights; (3) unauthorized fixation of and trafficking in reproductions of live musical performances; (4) unauthorized recording of motion pictures; and (5) trafficking in counterfeit goods or services.

Provides for civil forfeiture of property used to facilitate copyright infringement and restitution for victims of such infringement.

Directs the Attorney General to: (1) create an operational unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist in the investigation and coordination of intellectual property crimes; (2) implement a comprehensive program to train FBI agents in the investigation and prosecution of such crimes; (3) assign federal prosecutors to Justice Department offices in Hong Kong and Budapest to coordinate international enforcement of intellectual property laws; and (4) create a task force to develop and implement a plan to investigate and prosecute international organized crime syndicates involved in theft of intellectual property.

Authorizes additional funding through FY2011 to investigate and prosecute criminal activity involving computers.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: Intellectual Property Enhanced Criminal Enforcement Act of 2006

Latest action (Jul 27, 2006): Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Policy area: Commerce · Origin: House · Introduced: Jul 27, 2006

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.