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Dan Gibson | October 14, 2008 4:30 am

Yesterday, President George W. Bush signed into law the PRO-IP Act, a remarkable bit of pro-RIAA legislation that, while not as bad as it could be, is still not terribly beneficial to the U.S-based consumer. Those who look to benefit from the bill’s provisions couldn’t have been happier–a testimonial from RIAA head Mitch Bainwol referred to the bill as “music to the ears of all those who care about strengthening American creativity and jobs.” While some of the bill’s original language making the Department of Justice free lawyers for the music biz on piracy cases was thankfully removed, the United States will have its very own Copyright Czar (or “IP Enforcement Representative”) to run oversee the bill’s stricter provisions, which notably include increased damages (reportedly up to $1.5 million for infringement on a 10-song album) in criminal copyright infringement cases. [Ars Technica]

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