Gonzales pushes IP Protection Act

May 15, 2007 The Bush administration isn't ready to curtail its crackdown on copyright crimes as Attorney General Alberto Gonzales asked Congress for stronger criminal penalties for repeat offenders and stiffer penalties for counterfeiters who cause people to be injured or die. In a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Gonzales said the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2007 was needed because intellectual property crimes continue to harm the economy and threaten individual safety. While Gonzales called for stricter penalties on enforcement, he said the White House was not sitting idle, claiming that the Justice Department in convicted 57% more defendants for criminal copyright and trademark offenses than in 2006 than in the previous year.

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