Congress readies broad new digital copyright bill | CNET News.com

For the last few years, a coalition of technology companies, academics and computer programmers has been trying to persuade Congress to scale back the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Now Congress is preparing to do precisely the opposite. A proposed copyright law seen by CNET News.com would expand the DMCA's restrictions on software that can bypass copy protections and grant federal police more wiretapping and enforcement powers.

The draft legislation, created by the Bush administration and backed by Rep. Lamar Smith, already enjoys the support of large copyright holders such as the Recording Industry Association of America. Smith is the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee that oversees intellectual-property law.
=================================================
Come on people, Why do we let morons make the laws? People that have NO idea how the industry works, and above that.. groups of companys like the RIAA? Really, I don't trust the RIAA to pass a law about how to poop, let alone 'fixing' any problems with the DMCA, which I believe is the problem from the beginning.

thank about it: "[The updates to the DMCA would] create a new federal crime of just trying to commit copyright infringement. Such willful attempts at piracy, even if they fail, could be punished by up to 10 years in prison. "

10 years. 10 YEARS for nothing more then copying a CD, video game, movie, tv show, book, art work. and we ALL know how the RIAA likes to sue people (that don't even have computers) and adding more 'power' to the DMCA will give them even more legal ground to stand on. It's nothing more then a ploy to not only allow the RIAA to sue people faster and with more legal ground, but also to allow the Bush Administration to SPY on you and me.

Isn't America free? Arn't we free to think, feel, do what we wish with in reason? Why do I need 'big brother' to spy on me because of a couple of bad apples in the mix?

Here's the hand basket for the world's trip to hell.