The Protecting Intellectual Rights Against Theft and Expropriation Act of 2004, better known as the Pirate Act, was a bill in the United States Congress that would have let federal prosecutors file civil lawsuits against suspected copyright infringers.

Legislative history

The bill was introduced in the United States Senate as by Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on March 25, 2004. It passed the Senate by a unanimous vote on June 25, 2004, and was referred to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary on August 4, 2004.

Lobbying

The main backer of this legislation is the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

See also

• Intellectual property legislation pending in the United States Congress

External links

• Text of the "Pirate Act"