FBI AGENTS - COMING TO AN IP OFFICE NEAR YOU

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) wants tough new antipiracy powers according to ZDNet. On Tuesday the DoJ issued a report calling for the power to conduct wiretaps when investigating serious intellectual property offences and the creation of a new offence of importation of pirated material. Most dramatically, the DoJ is also calling for FBI agents to be stationed in Budapest and Hong Kong to help local officers and to provide training on enforcement.

"The department is prepared to build the strongest, most aggressive legal assault against intellectual-property crime in our nation's history," said Attorney General John Ashcroft. Readers will note that he hasn't limited his comments to copyright, and indeed, there are recommendations concerning trademark infringements, trade secret violations and fake pharmaceuticals.

The IPKat is amazed by the lengths to which the DoJ is going to make IP infringement a criminal rather than civil matter but he's even more stunned at the thought of US officials being stationed abroad for the cause of IP. He wonders what the countries that are thought to need such "assistance" will make of the plans.

More American invasions here, here and here.