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Codebreaker

The Obama Administration wants to beef up investigations of online piracy

Marc Sanchez Feb 14, 2012
Codebreaker

The Obama Administration wants to beef up investigations of online piracy

Marc Sanchez Feb 14, 2012

Folded into yesterday’s proposed $3.8 trillion budget was $27.1 billion piece of pie for the Department of Justice. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that the Obama Administration is asking for $5 million to invest in intellectual property crimes. According to the proposal, $5 million will net around 14 new employees, nine of whom will be attorneys. And if Congress approves, that means this anti-piracy division, I’ll call them Law & Order ISP, will have a total of 34 people. Keep in mind, when the Administration asked for $3 million last year, it was denied. With failed legislation in both Houses (SOPA/PIPA) and pressure to act coming from the entertainment industry, maybe Congress will act differently this time around.

But let’s go back a second… 34 people! That means there are only 20 on staff now. Those are the 20 people who, in between raids on vendors selling faux Fendi bags, found time to bring down Megaupload.

 

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