Understanding the International Implications

The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 focuses largely on combating copyright infringement in foreign countries. Intellectual property can be stolen without notice more easily than someone's physical property -- such as an automobile or taking someone's wallet as they walk down the street.

The stealing of intellectual property is likely to occur when someone has access to a music album or film before its official release. These days, popular musicians are more likely to have their work stolen and available on the Internet before its official release. Millions of normal citizens all over the world illegally download music and do not think much of it.

For years people did not seem concerned with music piracy because the only ones getting hurt were rich entertainers. However, record labels have employees who have been laid off due to a dramatic decrease in record sales. Also, rich entertainers are not the only people releasing new music.

Struggling musicians are having their intellectual property rights stolen by pirates as well. Television episodes and movies are pirated internationally but the monetary effect is not as great as the effect on the music industry.

Section 106 of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 mentions importing and exporting pirated material. The importing of pirated material had already been illegal under previous copyright law. The Act passed in 2008 called for a ban on all exporting of copyright infringed material. This helped to put a stop to a decrease in international commerce coming into the United States from foreign countries purchasing American copyrighted work.

Section 401 of the intellectual property rights Act speaks on the importance of educating foreign countries on piracy. The Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are to appoint at least ten additional groups to travel to foreign land and work with officials to combat counterfeiting and piracy of intellectual property rights.

Under the Department of Justice, the Intellectual Property Enforcement Division will be headed by an intellectual property enforcement officer. They will look to enforce intellectual property rights in foreign countries as well as uncover computer hacking secrets that aid in the stealing of intellectual property rights. This is explained in section 501 of the Act.

Other sections of the 2008 Act meant to protect intellectual property rights from foreign piracy include:

Section 511- This section calls for the Computer Enforcement Act to provide grant programs to include preventing infringement of copyrighted works over the Internet.

Section 512- This section directs the Attorney General to call for improvements in computer hacking and intellectual property rights protection. It also gives the Attorney General power to determine if prosecuting attorneys should review certain intellectual crimes and proceed with criminal charges.

Section 514- This section authorizes agencies within the intellectual property Act to carry out international actions.

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