To paraphrase a line from a favorite song, you don't always get what you want, but sometimes, you get what you need. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) almost certainly did not get all that it wanted when the House of Representatives passed the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act (Pro IP Act), H.R. 4279, in May. What remains to be seen is whether the RIAA and other proponents of the legislation will get what they claim to need ' or anything at all.
According to the House Judiciary Committee report, the purpose of the Pro IP Act is 'to improve intellectual property enforcement in the United States and abroad.' To achieve that, the bill would make multiple changes, mainly to copyright and trademark law.
Changing Laws
Supporters argue that these modifications are necessary to combat the growing threat of global counterfeiting and piracy. They point to the loss of high-paying jobs, the health and safety risks of counterfeit goods, and the involvement of organized crime in counterfeiting.
