HR 4279 is a very bad piece of legislation. Among other things, it:

• Creates an IP “Czar” in the Department of Justice, who would be institutionally driven to make criminal matters out of what is has been a civil offense.
• Apply civil asset forfeiture, so you could lose your house if law enforcement agencies convince a judge that you might be infringing.
• Expanded criminal penalties.

Luckily, it’s unlikely to make it through the Senate in an election year, but this legislation is evil.

What too many people do not understand, including over 400 members of Congress, it passed 410 to 10, is that Patent and Copyright Law is at its Core Public Interest Law. It is not a property right, but rather a societal contract in which we all give up our rights in order to encourage artistic and scientific development through the granting of a temporary exclusive license.