[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4077 Engrossed in House (EH)]
2d Session
H. R. 4077
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To enhance criminal enforcement of the copyright laws, to educate the
public about the application of copyright law to the Internet, and for
other purposes.
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4077
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To enhance criminal enforcement of the copyright laws, to educate the
public about the application of copyright law to the Internet, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I--PIRACY DETERRENCE IN EDUCATION
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Piracy Deterrence and Education
Act of 2004''.
SEC. 102. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) The Internet, while changing the way our society
communicates, has also changed the nature of many crimes,
including the theft of intellectual property.
(2) Trafficking in infringing copyrighted works through
increasingly sophisticated electronic means, including peer-to-
peer file trading networks, Internet chat rooms, and news
groups, threatens lost jobs, lost income for creators, lower
tax revenue, and higher prices for honest purchasers.
(3) The most popular peer-to-peer file trading software
programs have been downloaded by computer users over
600,000,000 times. At any one time there are over 3,000,000
users simultaneously using just one of these services. Each
month, on average, over 2,300,000,000 digital-media files are
transferred among users of peer-to-peer systems.
(4) Many computer users simply believe that they will not
be caught or prosecuted for their conduct.
(5) The security and privacy threats posed by certain peer-
to-peer networks extend beyond users inadvertently enabling a
hacker to access files. Millions of copies of one of the most
popular peer-to-peer networks contain software that could allow
an independent company to take over portions of users'
computers and Internet connections and has the capacity to keep
track of users' online habits.
(6) In light of these considerations, Federal law
enforcement agencies should actively pursue criminals who steal
the copyrighted works of others, and prevent such activity
through enforcement and awareness. The public should be
educated about the security and privacy risks associated with
being connected to certain peer-to-peer networks.
SEC. 103. VOLUNTARY PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
(a) Voluntary Program.--The Attorney General is authorized to
establish a program under which the Department of Justice, in cases
where persons who are subscribers of Internet service providers appear
to the Department of Justice to be engaging in copyright infringing
conduct in the course of using such Internet service, would send to the
Internet service providers warning letters that warn such persons of
the penalties for such copyright infringement. The Internet service
providers may forward the warning letters to such persons.
(b) Limitations on Program.--
(1) Extent and length of program.--The program under
subsection (a) shall terminate at the end of the 18-month
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and
shall be limited to not more than 10,000 warning letters.
(2) Privacy protections.--No Internet service provider that
receives a warning letter from the Department of Justice under
subsection (a) may disclose to the Department any identifying
information about the subscriber that is the subject of the
warning letter except pursuant to court order or other
applicable legal process that requires such disclosure.
(c) Reimbursement of Internet Service Providers.--The Department of
Justice shall reimburse Internet service providers for all reasonable
direct costs incurred by such service providers in identifying the
proper recipients of the warning letters under subsection (a) and
forwarding the letters.
(d) Reports to Congress.--The Attorney General shall submit to the
Congress a report on the program established under subsection (a) both
at the time the program is initiated and at the conclusion of the
program.
(e) Inadmissibility of Evidence.--The fact that an Internet service
provider participated in the program under subsection (a), received a
warning letter from the Department of Justice, was aware of the
contents of the warning letter, or forwarded the warning letter to a
subscriber, shall not be admissible in any legal proceeding brought
against the Internet service provider.
(f) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
affect the ability of a court to consider, in a legal proceeding
brought against an Internet service provider, notifications of claimed
infringement as described in section 512(c)(3) of title 17, United
States Code, or any other relevant evidence, other than that described
in subsection (e).
SEC. 104. DESIGNATION AND TRAINING OF AGENTS IN COMPUTER HACKING AND
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY UNITS.
(a) Designation of Agents in CHIPs Units.--The Attorney General
shall ensure that any unit in the Department of Justice responsible for
investigating computer hacking or responsible for investigating
intellectual property crimes is assigned at least one agent to support
such unit for the purpose of investigating crimes relating to the theft
of intellectual property.
(b) Training.--The Attorney General shall ensure that each agent
assigned under subsection (a) has received training in the
investigation and enforcement of intellectual property crimes.
SEC. 105. EDUCATION PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--There shall be established within the Office of
the Associate Attorney General of the United States an Internet Use
Education Program.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Internet Use Education Program
shall be to--
(1) educate the general public concerning the value of
copyrighted works and the effects of the theft of such works on
those who create them; and
(2) educate the general public concerning the privacy,
security, and other risks of using the Internet to obtain
illegal copies of copyrighted works.
(c) Sector Specific Materials.--The Internet Use Educational
Program shall, to the extent appropriate, develop materials appropriate
to Internet users in different sectors of the general public where
criminal copyright infringement is a concern. The Attorney General
shall consult with appropriate interested parties in developing such
sector-specific materials.
(d) Consultations.--The Attorney General shall consult with the
Register of Copyrights and the Secretary of Commerce in developing the
Internet Use Education Program under this section.
(e) Prohibition on Use of Certain Funds.--The program created under
this section shall not use funds or resources of the Department of
Justice allocated for criminal investigation or prosecution.
(f) Additional Prohibition on the Use of Funds.--The program
created under this section shall not use any funds or resources of the
Department of Justice allocated for the Civil Rights Division of the
Department, including any funds allocated for the enforcement of civil
rights or the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
SEC. 106. ACTIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Section 411(a) of title 17, United States Code, is amended in the
first sentence by striking ``Except for'' and inserting ``Except for an
action brought by the Government of the United States or by any agency
or instrumentality thereof, or'' .
SEC. 107. AUTHORIZED APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of
Justice for fiscal year 2005 not less than $15,000,000 for the
investigation and prosecution of violations of title 17, United States
Code.
SEC. 108. CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR UNAUTHORIZED RECORDING OF MOTION
PICTURES IN A MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITION FACILITY.
(a) In General.--Chapter 113 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by adding after section 2319A the following new section:
``Sec. 2319B. Unauthorized recording of motion pictures in a motion
picture exhibition facility
``(a) Offense.--Any person who, without the authorization of the
copyright owner, knowingly uses or attempts to use an audiovisual
recording device to transmit or make a copy of a motion picture or
other audiovisual work protected under title 17, or any part thereof,
from a performance of such work in a motion picture exhibition
facility, shall--
``(1) be imprisoned for not more than 3 years, fined under
this title, or both; or
``(2) if the offense is a second or subsequent offense, be
imprisoned for no more than 6 years, fined under this title, or
both.
The possession by a person of an audiovisual recording device in a
motion picture exhibition facility may be considered as evidence in any
proceeding to determine whether that person committed an offense under
this subsection, but shall not, by itself, be sufficient to support a
conviction of that person for such offense.
``(b) Forfeiture and Destruction.--When a person is convicted of an
offense under subsection (a), the court in its judgment of conviction
shall, in addition to any penalty provided, order the forfeiture and
destruction or other disposition of all unauthorized copies of motion
pictures or other audiovisual works protected under title 17, or parts
thereof, and any audiovisual recording devices or other equipment used
in connection with the offense.
``(c) Authorized Activities.--This section does not prevent any
lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity
by an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, a State, or a
political subdivision of a State, or by a person acting under a
contract with the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of
a State.
``(d) Immunity for Theaters and Authorized Persons.--With
reasonable cause, the owner or lessee of a motion picture facility
where a motion picture is being exhibited, the authorized agent or
employee of such owner or lessee, the licensor of the motion picture
being exhibited, or the agent or employee of such licensor--
``(1) may detain, in a reasonable manner and for a
reasonable time, any person suspected of committing an offense
under this section for the purpose of questioning that person
or summoning a law enforcement officer; and
``(2) shall not be held liable in any civil or criminal
action by reason of a detention under paragraph (1).
``(e) Victim Impact Statement.--
``(1) In general.--During the preparation of the
presentence report under rule 32(c) of the Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure, victims of an offense under this section
shall be permitted to submit to the probation officer a victim
impact statement that identifies the victim of the offense and
the extent and scope of the injury and loss suffered by the
victim, including the estimated economic impact of the offense
on that victim.
``(2) Contents.--A victim impact statement submitted under
this subsection shall include--
``(A) producers and sellers of legitimate works
affected by conduct involved in the offense;
``(B) holders of intellectual property rights in
the works described in subparagraph (A); and
``(C) the legal representatives of such producers,
sellers, and holders.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Audiovisual work, copy, etc.--The terms `audiovisual
work', `copy', `copyright owner', `motion picture', and
`transmit' have, respectively, the meanings given those terms
in section 101 of title 17.
``(2) Audiovisual recording device.--The term `audiovisual
recording device' means a digital or analog photographic or
video camera, or any other technology or device capable of
enabling the recording or transmission of a copyrighted motion
picture or other audiovisual work, or any part thereof,
regardless of whether audiovisual recording is the sole or
primary purpose of the device.
``(3) Motion picture exhibition facility.--The term `motion
picture exhibition facility' means a movie theater, screening
room, or other venue that is being used primarily for the
exhibition of a copyrighted motion picture, if such exhibition
is open to the public or is made to an assembled group of
viewers outside of a normal circle of a family and its social
acquaintances.
``(g) State Law Not Preempted.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to annul or limit any rights or remedies under the laws of
any State.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 113 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 2319A the following:
``2319B. Unauthorized recording of motion pictures in a motion picture
exhibition facility.''.
SEC. 109. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY ON PEER-TO-PEER SERVICES.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
(1) The most popular publicly accessible peer-to-peer file
sharing software programs combined have been downloaded
worldwide over 600,000,000 times.
(2) The vast majority of software products, including peer-
to-peer technology, do not pose an inherent risk. Responsible
persons making software products should be encouraged and
commended for the due diligence and reasonable care they take
including by providing instructions, relevant information in
the documentation, disseminating patches, updates, and other
appropriate modifications to the software.
(3) Massive volumes of illegal activity, including the
distribution of child pornography, viruses, and confidential
personal information, and copyright infringement occur on
publicly accessible peer-to-peer file sharing services every
day. Some publicly accessible peer-to-peer file sharing
services expose consumers, particularly children, to serious
risks, including legal liability, loss of privacy, threats to
computer security, and exposure to illegal and inappropriate
material.
(4) Several studies and reports demonstrate that
pornography, including child pornography, is prevalent on
publicly available peer-to-peer file sharing services, and
children are regularly exposed to pornography when using such
peer-to-peer file sharing services.
(5) The full potential of peer-to-peer technology to
benefit consumers has yet to be realized and will not be
achieved until these problems are adequately addressed.
(6) To date, the businesses that run publicly accessible
file-sharing services have refused or failed to voluntarily and
sufficiently address these problems.
(7) Many users of publicly available peer-to-peer file-
sharing services are drawn to these systems by the lure of
obtaining ``free'' music and movies.
(8) While some users use parental controls to protect
children from pornography available on the Internet and search
engines, not all such controls work on publicly accessible
peer-to-peer networks.
(9) Businesses that run publicly accessible peer-to-peer
file sharing services have openly acknowledged, and numerous
studies and reports have established, that these services
facilitate and profit from massive amounts of copyright
infringement, causing enormous damage to the economic well-
being of the copyright industries whose works are being
illegally ``shared'' and downloaded.
(10) The legitimate digital music marketplace offers
consumers a wide and growing array of choices for obtaining
music legally, without exposure to the risks posed by publicly
accessible peer-to-peer file sharing services.
(11) The Federal Trade Commission issued a Consumer Alert
in July of 2003 warning consumers that some file-sharing
services contain damaging viruses and worms and, without the
computer user's knowledge or consent, install spyware to
monitor a user's browsing habits and send data to third parties
or automatically open network connections.
(12) Publicly available peer-to-peer file-sharing services
can and should adopt reasonable business practices and use
technology in the marketplace to address the existing risks
posed to consumers by their services and facilitate the
legitimate use of peer-to-peer file sharing technology and
software.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) responsible software developers should be commended,
recognized, and encouraged for their efforts to protect
consumers;
(2) currently the level of ongoing and persistent illegal
and dangerous activity on publicly accessible peer-to-peer file
sharing services is harmful to consumers, minors, and the
economy; and
(3) therefore, the Congress and the executive branch should
consider all appropriate measures to protect consumers and
children, and prevent such illegal activity.
SEC. 110. ENHANCEMENT OF CRIMINAL COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.
(a) Criminal Infringement.--Section 506 of title 17, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) Criminal Infringement.--Any person who--
``(1) infringes a copyright willfully and for purposes of
commercial advantage or private financial gain,
``(2) infringes a copyright willfully by the reproduction
or distribution, including by the offering for distribution to
the public by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1
or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works,
which have a total retail value of more than $1,000, or
``(3) infringes a copyright by the knowing distribution,
including by the offering for distribution to the public by
electronic means, with reckless disregard of the risk of
further infringement, during any 180-day period, of--
``(A) 1,000 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or
more copyrighted works,
``(B) 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more
copyrighted works with a total retail value of more
than $10,000, or
``(C) 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more
copyrighted pre-release works,
shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18. For
purposes of this subsection, evidence of reproduction or distribution
of a copyrighted work, by itself, shall not be sufficient to establish
the necessary level of intent under this subsection.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Limitation on Liability of Service Providers.--No legal
entity shall be liable for a violation of subsection (a)(3) by reason
of performing any function described in subsection (a), (b), (c), or
(d) of section 512 if such legal entity would not be liable for
monetary relief under section 512 by reason of performing such
function. Except for purposes of determining whether an entity
qualifies for the limitation on liability under subsection (a)(3) of
this section, the legal conclusion of whether an entity qualifies for a
limitation on liability under section 512 shall not be considered in a
judicial determination of whether the entity violates subsection (a) of
this section.
``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Pre-release work.--The term `pre-release work' refers
to a work protected under this title which has a commercial and
economic value and which, at the time of the act of
infringement that is the basis for the offense under subsection
(a)(3), the defendant knew or should have known had not yet
been made available by the copyright owner to individual
members of the general public in copies or phonorecords for
sale, license, or rental.
``(2) Retail value.--The `retail value' of a copyrighted
work is the retail price of that work in the market in which it
is sold. In the case of an infringement of a copyright by
distribution, if the retail price does not adequately reflect
the economic value of the infringement, then the retail value
may be determined using other factors, including but not
limited to suggested retail price, wholesale price, replacement
cost of the item, licensing, or distribution-related fees.''.
(b) Penalties.--Section 2319 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections
(e) and (f), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
``(d) Any person who commits an offense under section 506(a)(3) of
title 17--
``(1) shall be imprisoned not more than 3 years, or fined
in the amount set forth in this title, or both, or, if the
offense was committed for purposes of commercial advantage or
private financial gain, imprisoned for not more than 5 years,
or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both; and
``(2) shall, if the offense is a second or subsequent
offense under paragraph (1), be imprisoned not more than 6
years, or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both,
or, if the offense was committed for purposes of commercial
advantage or private financial gain, imprisoned for not more
than 10 years, or fined in the amount set forth in this title,
or both.''; and
(3) in subsection (f), as so redesignated--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) the term `financial gain' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 (relating to definitions) of title 17.''.
(c) Civil Remedies for Infringement of a Commercial Pre-Release
Copyrighted Work.--Section 504(b) of title 17, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``The copyright owner'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--The copyright owner''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Damages for pre-release infringement.--
``(A) In general.--In the case of any pre-release
work, actual damages shall be presumed conclusively to
be no less than $10,000 per infringement, if a person--
``(i) distributes such work by making it
available on a computer network accessible to
members of the public; and
``(ii) knew or should have known that the
work was intended for commercial distribution.
``(B) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection,
the term `pre-release work' has the meaning given that
term in section 506(h).''.
SEC. 111. AMENDMENT OF FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES REGARDING THE
INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHTED WORKS AND RELATED CRIMES.
(a) Amendment to the Sentencing Guidelines.--Pursuant to its
authority under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, and in
accordance with this section, the United States Sentencing Commission
shall review and, if appropriate, amend the sentencing guidelines and
policy statements applicable to persons convicted of intellectual
property rights crimes, including sections 2318, 2319, 2319A, 2319B,
2320 of title 18, United States Code, and sections 506, 1201, and 1202
of title 17, United States Code.
(b) Factors.--In carrying out this section, the Sentencing
Commission shall--
(1) take all appropriate measures to ensure that the
sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to the
offenses described in subsection (a) are sufficiently stringent
to deter and adequately reflect the nature of such offenses;
(2) consider whether to provide a sentencing enhancement
for those convicted of the offenses described in subsection (a)
when the conduct involves the display, performance,
publication, reproduction, or distribution of a copyrighted
work before the time when the copyright owner has authorized
the display, performance, publication, reproduction, or
distribution of the original work, whether in the media format
used by the infringing good or in any other media format;
(3) consider whether the definition of ``uploading''
contained in Application Note 3 to Guideline 2B5.3 is adequate
to address the loss attributable to people broadly distributing
copyrighted works over the Internet without authorization; and
(4) consider whether the sentencing guidelines and policy
statements applicable to the offenses described in subsection
(a) adequately reflect any harm to victims from infringement in
circumstances where law enforcement cannot determine how many
times copyrighted material is reproduced or distributed.
(c) Promulgation.--The Commission may promulgate the guidelines or
amendments under this section in accordance with the procedures set
forth in section 21(a) of the Sentencing Act of 1987, as though the
authority under that Act had not expired.
SEC. 112. EXEMPTION FROM INFRINGEMENT FOR SKIPPING AUDIO AND VIDEO
CONTENT IN MOTION PICTURES.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Family Movie
Act of 2004''.
(b) Exemption From Copyright and Trademark Infringement for
Skipping of Audio or Video Content of Motion Pictures.--Section 110 of
title 17, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon at the end;
(2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and'';
(3) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:
``(11) the making imperceptible, by or at the direction of
a member of a private household, of limited portions of audio
or video content of a motion picture during a performance in or
transmitted to that household for private home viewing, from an
authorized copy of the motion picture, or the creation or
provision of a computer program or other technology that
enables such making imperceptible and that is designed and
marketed for such use at the direction of a member of a private
household, if--
``(A) no fixed copy of the altered version of the
motion picture is created by such computer program or
other technology; and
``(B) no changes, deletions or additions are made
by such computer program or other technology to
commercial advertisements, or to network or station
promotional announcements, that would otherwise be
performed or displayed before, during or after the
performance of the motion picture.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``For purposes of paragraph (11), the term `making imperceptible'
does not include the addition of audio or video content that is
performed or displayed over or in place of existing content in a motion
picture.''.
(c) Exemption From Trademark Infringement.--Section 32 of the
Trademark Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1114) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
(c) Exemption From Trademark Infringement.--Section 32 of the
Trademark Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1114) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(3)(A) Any person who engages in the conduct described in
paragraph (11) of section 110 of title 17, United States Code, and who
complies with the requirements set forth in that paragraph is not
liable on account of such conduct for a violation of any right under
this Act. This subparagraph does not preclude liability of a person for
conduct not described in paragraph (11) of section 110 of title 17,
United States Code, even if that person also engages in conduct
described in paragraph (11) of section 110 of such title.
``(B) A manufacturer, licensee, or licensor of technology that
enables the making of limited portions of audio or video content of a
motion picture imperceptible that is authorized under subparagraph (A)
is not liable on account of such manufacture or license for a violation
of any right under this Act, if such manufacturer, licensee, or
licensor ensures that the technology provides a clear and conspicuous
notice at the beginning of each performance that the performance of the
motion picture is altered from the performance intended by the director
or copyright holder of the motion picture. Subparagraph (A) shall not
apply to a manufacturer, licensee, or licensor of technology that fails
to comply with this subparagraph.
``(C) The requirement under subparagraph (B) to provide notice
shall apply only with respect to technology manufactured after the end
of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of the
Family Movie Act of 2004.''.
(d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Trademark Act of
1946'' means the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the registration
and protection of trademarks used in commerce, to carry out the
provisions of certain international conventions, and for other
purposes'', approved July 5, 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.).
TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 201. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL TREE.
(a) Designation.--Chapter 3 of title 36, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 305. National tree
``The tree genus Quercus, commonly known as the oak tree, is the
national tree.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Such title is amended--
(1) in the table of contents for part A of subtitle I, by
striking ``, and March'' and inserting ``March, and Tree'';
(2) in the chapter heading for chapter 3, by striking ``,
AND MARCH'' and inserting ``MARCH, AND TREE''; and
(3) in the table of sections for chapter 3, by adding at
the end the following:
``305. National tree.''.
Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 2004.
Attest:
Clerk.