Business lobbyists are leaning on US President George Bush to sign into law a controversial copyright bill.

The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act has cross-party support ,and is endorsed by the Recording Industry Association of America. However, the Bush administration threatened a veto last month, saying  it was "deeply concerned" that the proposal would divert resources from criminal prosecution to civil enforcement, and create "unnecessary bureaucracy." In short, the Bush administration has worked out that police will become the enforcement officers for the Recording Industry Association of America.

Bush feels that copyright owners already have plenty of legal methods to target infringers, including seeking injunctions, impounding infringing materials, recovering actual damages plus statutory damages, and, in some cases, obtaining attorney's fees. The bill has gone back to the drawing board and the US Commerce Department is still thinking about suggested changes.

Meanwhile, however, the industry lobby groups are leaning on the Bush Administration to accept the law on the basis that it will save lots of jobs in the entertainment industry. In an election year, the idea of saving American jobs is becoming a powerful mantra among politicians. X
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