Day After SOPA

Posted by: Ted in Ted's Soapbox 2.5 No Comments »

We got some snow on Monday, they said we would only get a dusting but we ended up with about 3 inches at the house.  It must have been a narrow band because areas just a few miles north of us didn’t get very much at all.  I had to use the snow blower to clear the drive and of course there was no gas for it so I had to go get some.  My wife had told me to do it last month, but I didn’t listen and with only expecting a little snow I didn’t think I would need the blower.  I put down some liquid ice melt and it helped clear up the areas I couldn’t get to.

Our driveway is really bad, a lot of cracks in it and it makes it hard to shovel and blow the snow since it gets stuck on the cracks.  Hopefully next year we will be able to get it replaced.  I think I will go with asphalt since it will be cheaper.

I had an appointment today for my headaches and received a shot in my head to help numb it.  It hurt.  I will go back in 3 weeks to get some steroids shot in it to see if that starts to help some.

Today was my shift change at work.  I hate this shift since I never see my family. It is very hard on my wife because she is home all evening with our son and they really don’t get along very well.

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Did the SOPA blackout affect anyone or actually do anything?

I was frustrated that I couldn’t get to some sites, I missed my daily dose of FARK and information on Wikipedia.  Some sites had very nice and even cute static pages on their sites.  I was sad to see that Facebook and Twitter stayed on-line.

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Here is a page from Gary Johnson’s budget.

 

 

 

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Total casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 6330

Deaths by Conflict

Operation Enduring Freedom :1860

Operation Iraqi Freedom :4403

Operation New Dawn :67

34 year old Army Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise

 

SOPA

Posted by: Ted in Ted's Soapbox 2.5 No Comments »

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TheFirst Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

Article [I]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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HR 3261 IH

The Stop Online Piracy Act

HR 3261 IH

 

112th CONGRESS

 

1st Session

 

H. R. 3261

 

To promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes.

 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

October 26, 2011

 

Mr. SMITH of Texas (for himself and Mr. CONYERS, Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas, Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. ROSS of Florida, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mrs. BONO MACK, Mr. TERRY, and Mr. SCHIFF) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary


 

A BILL

 

To promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

 

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘Stop Online Piracy Act’.

 

(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

 

Sec. 2. Savings and severability clauses.

 

TITLE I–COMBATING ONLINE PIRACY

 

Sec. 101. Definitions.

 

Sec. 102. Action by Attorney General to protect U.S. customers and prevent U.S. support of foreign infringing sites.

 

Sec. 103. Market-based system to protect U.S. customers and prevent U.S. funding of sites dedicated to theft of U.S. property.

 

Sec. 104. Immunity for taking voluntary action against sites dedicated to theft of U.S. property.

 

Sec. 105. Immunity for taking voluntary action against sites that endanger public health.

 

Sec. 106. Guidelines and study.

 

Sec. 107. Denying U.S. capital to notorious foreign infringers.

 

TITLE II–ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS TO COMBAT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT

 

Sec. 201. Streaming of copyrighted works in violation of criminal law.

 

Sec. 202. Trafficking in inherently dangerous goods or services.

 

Sec. 203. Protecting U.S. businesses from foreign and economic espionage.

 

Sec. 204. Amendments to sentencing guidelines.

 

Sec. 205. Defending intellectual property rights abroad.

 

SEC. 2. SAVINGS AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSES.

 

(a) Savings Clauses-

 

(1) FIRST AMENDMENT- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to impose a prior restraint on free speech or the press protected under the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.

 

(2) TITLE 17 LIABILITY- Nothing in title I shall be construed to enlarge or diminish liability, including vicarious or contributory liability, for any cause of action available under title 17, United States Code, including any limitations on liability under such title.

 

(b) Severability- If any provision of this Act, or the application of the provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the other provisions or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

 

TITLE I–COMBATING ONLINE PIRACY

 

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

 

In this title:

 

(1) DOMAIN NAME- The term ‘domain name’ has the meaning given that term in section 45 of the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. 1127) and includes any subdomain designation using such domain name as part of an electronic address on the Internet to identify a unique online location.

 

(2) DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM SERVER- The term ‘domain name system server’ means a server or other mechanism used to provide the Internet protocol address associated with a domain name.

 

(3) DOMESTIC DOMAIN NAME- The term ‘domestic domain name’ means a domain name that is registered or assigned by a domain name registrar, domain name registry, or other domain name registration authority, that is located within a judicial district of the United States.

 

(4) DOMESTIC INTERNET PROTOCOL ADDRESS- The term ‘domestic Internet Protocol address’ means an Internet Protocol address for which the corresponding Internet Protocol allocation entity is located within a judicial district of the United States.

 

(5) DOMESTIC INTERNET SITE- The term ‘domestic Internet site’ means an Internet site for which the corresponding domain name or, if there is no domain name, the corresponding Internet Protocol address, is a domestic domain name or domestic Internet Protocol address.

 

(6) FOREIGN DOMAIN NAME- The term ‘foreign domain name’ means a domain name that is not a domestic domain name.

 

(7) FOREIGN INTERNET PROTOCOL ADDRESS- The term ‘foreign Internet Protocol address’ means an Internet Protocol address that is not a domestic Internet protocol address.

 

(8) FOREIGN INTERNET SITE- The term ‘foreign Internet site’ means an Internet site that is not a domestic Internet site.

 

(9) INCLUDING- The term ‘including’ means including, but not limited to.

 

(10) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT COORDINATOR- The term ‘Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator’ means the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator appointed under section 301 of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 8111).

 

(11) INTERNET- The term ‘Internet’ has the meaning given that term in section 5362(5) of title 31, United States Code.

 

(12) INTERNET ADVERTISING SERVICE- The term ‘Internet advertising service’ means a service that for compensation sells, purchases, brokers, serves, inserts, verifies, clears, or otherwise facilitates the placement of an advertisement, including a paid or sponsored search result, link, or placement, that is rendered in viewable form for any period of time on an Internet site.

 

(13) INTERNET PROTOCOL- The term ‘Internet Protocol’ means a protocol used for communicating data across a packet-switched internetwork using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, and includes any predecessor or successor protocol to such protocol.

 

(14) INTERNET PROTOCOL ADDRESS- The term ‘Internet Protocol address’ means a numerical label that is assigned to each device that participates in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.

 

(15) INTERNET PROTOCOL ALLOCATION ENTITY- The term ‘Internet Protocol allocation entity’ means, with respect to a particular Internet Protocol address, the entity, local internet registry, or regional internet registry to which the smallest applicable block of Internet Protocol addresses containing that address is allocated or assigned by a local internet registry, regional internet registry, or other Internet Protocol address allocation authority, according to the applicable publicly available database of allocations and assignments, if any.

 

(16) INTERNET SEARCH ENGINE- The term ‘Internet search engine’ means a service made available via the Internet that searches, crawls, categorizes, or indexes information or Web sites available elsewhere on the Internet and on the basis of a user query or selection that consists of terms, concepts, categories, questions, or other data returns to the user a means, such as a hyperlinked list of Uniform Resource Locators, of locating, viewing, or downloading such information or data available on the Internet relating to such query or selection.

 

(17) INTERNET SITE- The term ‘Internet site’ means the collection of digital assets, including links, indexes, or pointers to digital assets, accessible through the Internet that are addressed relative to a common domain name or, if there is no domain name, a common Internet Protocol address.

 

(18) LANHAM ACT- The term ‘Lanham Act’ means the Act entitled ‘An Act to provide for the registration and protection of trademarks used in commerce, to carry out the provisions of certain international conventions, and for other purposes’, approved July 5, 1946 (commonly referred to as the ‘Trademark Act of 1946’ or the ‘Lanham Act’).

 

(19) NONAUTHORITATIVE DOMAIN NAME SERVER- The term ‘nonauthoritative domain name server’ means a server that does not contain complete copies of domains but uses a cache file that is comprised of previous domain name server lookups, for which the server has received an authoritative response in the past.

 

(20) OWNER; OPERATOR- The terms ‘owner’ or ‘operator’, when used in connection with an Internet site, includes, respectively, any owner of a majority interest in, or any person with authority to operate, such Internet site.

 

(21) PAYMENT NETWORK PROVIDER-

 

(A) IN GENERAL- The term ‘payment network provider’ means an entity that directly or indirectly provides the proprietary services, infrastructure, and software to effect or facilitate a debit, credit, or other payment transaction.

 

(B) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- For purposes of this paragraph, a depository institution (as such term is defined under section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) or credit union that initiates a payment transaction shall not be construed to be a payment network provider based solely on the offering or provision of such service.

 

(22) SERVICE PROVIDER- The term ‘service provider’ means a service provider as defined in section 512(k)(1) of title 17, United States Code, that operates a nonauthoritative domain name system server.

 

(23) U.S.-DIRECTED SITE- The term ‘U.S.-directed site’ means an Internet site or portion thereof that is used to conduct business directed to residents of the United States, or that otherwise demonstrates the existence of minimum contacts sufficient for the exercise of personal jurisdiction over the owner or operator of the Internet site consistent with the Constitution of the United States, based on relevant evidence that may include whether–

 

(A) the Internet site is used to provide goods or services to users located in the United States;

 

(B) there is evidence that the Internet site or portion thereof is intended to offer or provide–

 

(i) such goods and services,

 

(ii) access to such goods and services, or

 

(iii) delivery of such goods and services,

 

to users located in the United States;

 

(C) the Internet site or portion thereof does not contain reasonable measures to prevent such goods and services from being obtained in or delivered to the United States; and

 

(D) any prices for goods and services are indicated or billed in the currency of the United States.

 

(24) UNITED STATES- The term ‘United States’ includes any commonwealth, possession, or territory of the United States.

 

SEC. 102. ACTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROTECT U.S. CUSTOMERS AND PREVENT U.S. SUPPORT OF FOREIGN INFRINGING SITES.

 

(a) Definition- For purposes of this section, a foreign Internet site or portion thereof is a ‘foreign infringing site’ if–

 

(1) the Internet site or portion thereof is a U.S.-directed site and is used by users in the United States;

 

(2) the owner or operator of such Internet site is committing or facilitating the commission of criminal violations punishable under section 2318, 2319, 2319A, 2319B, or 2320, or chapter 90, of title 18, United States Code; and

 

(3) the Internet site would, by reason of acts described in paragraph (1), be subject to seizure in the United States in an action brought by the Attorney General if such site were a domestic Internet site.

 

(b) Action by the Attorney General-

 

(1) IN PERSONAM- The Attorney General may commence an in personam action against–

 

(A) a registrant of a domain name used by a foreign infringing site; or

 

(B) an owner or operator of a foreign infringing site.

 

(2) IN REM- If through due diligence the Attorney General is unable to find a person described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1), or no such person found has an address within a judicial district of the United States, the Attorney General may commence an in rem action against a foreign infringing site or the foreign domain name used by such site.

 

(3) NOTICE- Upon commencing an action under this subsection, the Attorney General shall send a notice of the alleged violation and intent to proceed under this section–

 

(A) to the registrant of the domain name of the Internet site–

 

(i) at the postal and electronic mail addresses appearing in the applicable publicly accessible database of registrations, if any, and to the extent such addresses are reasonably available; and

 

(ii) via the postal and electronic mail addresses of the registrar, registry, or other domain name registration authority that registered or assigned the domain name of the Internet site, to the extent such addresses are reasonably available; or

 

(B) to the owner or operator of the Internet site–

 

(i) at the primary postal and electronic mail addresses for such owner or operator that is provided on the Internet site, if any, and to the extent such addresses are reasonably available; or

 

(ii) if there is no domain name of the Internet site, via the postal and electronic mail addresses of the Internet Protocol allocation entity appearing in the applicable publicly accessible database of allocations and assignments, if any, and to the extent such addresses are reasonably available; or

 

(C) in any other such form as the court may provide, including as may be required by rule 4(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

 

(4) SERVICE OF PROCESS- For purposes of this section, the actions described in this subsection shall constitute service of process.

 

(5) RELIEF- On application of the Attorney General following the commencement of an action under this section, the court may issue a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, or an injunction, in accordance with rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, against a registrant of a domain name used by the foreign infringing site or an owner or operator of the foreign infringing site or, in an action brought in rem under paragraph (2), against the foreign infringing site or a portion of such site, or the domain name used by such site, to cease and desist from undertaking any further activity as a foreign infringing site.

 

(c) Actions Based on Court Orders-

 

(1) SERVICE- A process server on behalf of the Attorney General, with prior approval of the court, may serve a copy of a court order issued pursuant to this section on similarly situated entities within each class described in paragraph (2). Proof of service shall be filed with the court.

 

(2) REASONABLE MEASURES- After being served with a copy of an order pursuant to this subsection, the following shall apply:

 

(A) SERVICE PROVIDERS-

 

(i) IN GENERAL- A service provider shall take technically feasible and reasonable measures designed to prevent access by its subscribers located within the United States to the foreign infringing site (or portion thereof) that is subject to the order, including measures designed to prevent the domain name of the foreign infringing site (or portion thereof) from resolving to that domain name’s Internet Protocol address. Such actions shall be taken as expeditiously as possible, but in any case within 5 days after being served with a copy of the order, or within such time as the court may order.

 

(ii) LIMITATIONS- A service provider shall not be required–

 

(I) other than as directed under this subparagraph, to modify its network, software, systems, or facilities;

 

(II) to take any measures with respect to domain name resolutions not performed by its own domain name server; or

 

(III) to continue to prevent access to a domain name to which access has been effectively disabled by other means.

 

(iii) CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this subparagraph shall affect the limitation on the liability of a service provider under section 512 of title 17, United States Code.

 

(iv) TEXT OF NOTICE- The Attorney General shall prescribe the text of any notice displayed to users or customers of a service provider taking actions pursuant to this subparagraph. Such text shall state that an action is being taken pursuant to a court order obtained by the Attorney General.

 

(B) INTERNET SEARCH ENGINES- A provider of an Internet search engine shall take technically feasible and reasonable measures, as expeditiously as possible, but in any case within 5 days after being served with a copy of the order, or within such time as the court may order, designed to prevent the foreign infringing site that is subject to the order, or a portion of such site specified in the order, from being served as a direct hypertext link.

 

(C) PAYMENT NETWORK PROVIDERS-

 

(i) PREVENTING AFFILIATION- A payment network provider shall take technically feasible and reasonable measures, as expeditiously as possible, but in any case within 5 days after being served with a copy of the order, or within such time as the court may order, designed to prevent, prohibit, or suspend its service from completing payment transactions involving customers located within the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and the payment account–

 

(I) which is used by the foreign infringing site, or portion thereof, that is subject to the order; and

 

(II) through which the payment network provider would complete such payment transactions.

 

(ii) NO DUTY TO MONITOR- A payment network provider shall be considered to be in compliance with clause (i) if it takes action described in that clause with respect to accounts it has as of the date on which a copy of the order is served, or as of the date on which the order is amended under subsection (e).

 

(D) INTERNET ADVERTISING SERVICES-

 

(i) REQUIRED ACTIONS- An Internet advertising service that contracts to provide advertising to or for the foreign infringing site, or portion thereof, that is subject to the order, or that knowingly serves advertising to or for such site or such portion thereof, shall take technically feasible and reasonable measures, as expeditiously as possible, but in any case within 5 days after being served with a copy of the order, or within such time as the court may order, designed to–

 

(I) prevent its service from providing advertisements to or relating to the foreign infringing site that is subject to the order or a portion of such site specified in the order;

 

(II) cease making available advertisements for the foreign infringing site or such portion thereof, or paid or sponsored search results, links, or other placements that provide access to such foreign infringing site or such portion thereof; and

 

(III) cease providing or receiving any compensation for advertising or related services to, from, or in connection with such foreign infringing site or such portion thereof.

 

(ii) NO DUTY TO MONITOR- An internet advertising service shall be considered to be in compliance with clause (i) if it takes action described in that clause with respect to accounts it has as of the date on which a copy of the order is served, or as of the date on which the order is amended under subsection (e).

 

(3) COMMUNICATION WITH USERS- Except as provided under paragraph (2)(A)(iv), an entity taking an action described in this subsection shall determine the means to communicate such action to the entity’s users or customers.

 

(4) ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS-

 

(A) IN GENERAL- To ensure compliance with orders issued pursuant to this section, the Attorney General may bring an action for injunctive relief–

 

(i) against any entity served under paragraph (1) that knowingly and willfully fails to comply with the requirements of this subsection to compel such entity to comply with such requirements; or

 

(ii) against any entity that knowingly and willfully provides or offers to provide a product or service designed or marketed for the circumvention or bypassing of measures described in paragraph (2) and taken in response to a court order issued pursuant to this subsection, to enjoin such entity from interfering with the order by continuing to provide or offer to provide such product or service.

 

(B) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- The authority granted the Attorney General under subparagraph (A)(i) shall be the sole legal remedy to enforce the obligations under this section of any entity described in paragraph (2).

 

(C) DEFENSE- A defendant in an action under subparagraph (A)(i) may establish an affirmative defense by showing that the defendant does not have the technical means to comply with this subsection without incurring an unreasonable economic burden, or that the order is not authorized by this subsection. Such showing shall not be presumed to be a complete defense but shall serve as a defense only for those measures for which a technical limitation on compliance is demonstrated or for such portions of the order as are demonstrated to be unauthorized by this subsection.

 

(D) DEFINITION- For purposes of this paragraph, a product or service designed or marketed for the circumvention or bypassing of measures described in paragraph (2) and taken in response to a court order issued pursuant to this subsection includes a product or service that is designed or marketed to enable a domain name described in such an order–

 

(i) to resolve to that domain name’s Internet protocol address notwithstanding the measures taken by a service provider under paragraph (2) to prevent such resolution; or

 

(ii) to resolve to a different domain name or Internet Protocol address that the provider of the product or service knows, reasonably should know, or reasonably believes is used by an Internet site offering substantially similar infringing activities as those with which the infringing foreign site, or portion thereof, subject to a court order under this section was associated.

 

(5) IMMUNITY-

 

(A) IMMUNITY FROM SUIT- Other than in an action pursuant to paragraph (4), no cause of action shall lie in any Federal or State court or administrative agency against any entity served with a copy of a court order issued under this subsection, or against any director, officer, employee, or agent thereof, for any act reasonably designed to comply with this subsection or reasonably arising from such order.

 

(B) IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY- Other than in an action pursuant to paragraph (4)–

 

(i) any entity served with a copy of an order under this subsection, and any director, officer, employee, or agent thereof, shall not be liable for any act reasonably designed to comply with this subsection or reasonably arising from such order; and

 

(ii) any–

 

(I) actions taken by customers of such entity to circumvent any restriction on access to the foreign infringing site, or portion thereof, that is subject to such order, that is instituted pursuant to this subsection, or

 

(II) act, failure, or inability to restrict access to a foreign infringing site, or portion thereof, that is subject to such order, in spite of good faith efforts to comply with such order by such entity,

 

shall not be used by any person in any claim or cause of action against such entity.

 

(d) Modification or Vacation of Orders-

 

(1) IN GENERAL- At any time after the issuance of an order under subsection (b), a motion to modify, suspend, or vacate the order may be filed by–

 

(A) any person, or owner or operator of property, that is subject to the order;

 

(B) any registrant of the domain name, or the owner or operator, of the Internet site that is subject to the order;

 

(C) any domain name registrar, registry, or other domain name registration authority that has registered or assigned the domain name of the Internet site that is subject to the order; or

 

(D) any entity that has been served with a copy of an order pursuant to subsection (c) that requires such entity to take action prescribed in that subsection.

 

(2) RELIEF- Relief under this subsection shall be proper if the court finds that–

 

(A) the foreign Internet site subject to the order is no longer, or never was, a foreign infringing site; or

 

(B) the interests of justice otherwise require that the order be modified, suspended, or vacated.

 

(3) CONSIDERATION- In making a relief determination under paragraph (2), a court may consider whether the domain name of the foreign Internet site has expired or has been re-registered by an entity other than the entity that is subject to the order with respect to which the motion under paragraph (1) is brought.

 

(4) INTERVENTION- An entity required to take action pursuant to subsection (c) if an order issues under subsection (b) may intervene at any time in any action commenced under subsection (b) that may result in such order, or in any action to modify, suspend, or vacate such order under this subsection.

 

(e) Amended Orders- The Attorney General, if alleging that a foreign Internet site previously adjudicated in an action under this section to be a foreign infringing site is accessible or has been reconstituted at a different domain name or Internet Protocol address, may petition the court to amend the order issued under this section accordingly.

 

(f) Law Enforcement Coordination-

 

(1) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General shall inform the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator and the heads of appropriate law enforcement agencies of all court orders issued under subsection (b), and all amended orders issued under subsection (e), regarding foreign infringing sites.

 

(2) ALTERATIONS- The Attorney General shall, and the defendant may, inform the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator of the modification, suspension, expiration, or vacation of a court order issued under subsection (b) or an amended order issued under subsection (e).

 

SEC. 103. MARKET-BASED SYSTEM TO PROTECT U.S. CUSTOMERS AND PREVENT U.S. FUNDING OF SITES DEDICATED TO THEFT OF U.S. PROPERTY.

 

(a) Definitions- In this section:

 

(1) DEDICATED TO THEFT OF U.S. PROPERTY- An ‘Internet site is dedicated to theft of U.S. property’ if–

 

(A) it is an Internet site, or a portion thereof, that is a U.S.-directed site and is used by users within the United States; and

 

(B) either–

 

(i) the U.S.-directed site is primarily designed or operated for the purpose of, has only limited purpose or use other than, or is marketed by its operator or another acting in concert with that operator for use in, offering goods or services in a manner that engages in, enables, or facilitates–

 

(III) the sale, distribution, or promotion of goods, services, or materials bearing a counterfeit mark, as that term is defined in section 34(d) of the Lanham Act or section 2320 of title 18, United States Code; or

 

(ii) the operator of the U.S.-directed site–

 

(I) is taking, or has taken, deliberate actions to avoid confirming a high probability of the use of the U.S.-directed site to carry out acts that constitute a violation of section 501 or 1201 of title 17, United States Code; or

 

(II) operates the U.S.-directed site with the object of promoting, or has promoted, its use to carry out acts that constitute a violation of section 501 or 1201 of title 17, United States Code, as shown by clear expression or other affirmative steps taken to foster infringement.

 

(2) QUALIFYING PLAINTIFF- The term ‘qualifying plaintiff’ means, with respect to a particular Internet site or portion thereof, a holder of an intellectual property right harmed by the activities described in paragraph (1) occurring on that Internet site or portion thereof.

 

(b) Denying U.S. Financial Support of Sites Dedicated to Theft of U.S. Property-

 

(1) PAYMENT NETWORK PROVIDERS- Except in the case of an effective counter notification pursuant to paragraph (5), a payment network provider shall take technically feasible and reasonable measures, as expeditiously as possible, but in any case within 5 days after delivery of a notification under paragraph (4), that are designed to prevent, prohibit, or suspend its service from completing payment transactions involving customers located within the United States and the Internet site, or portion thereof, that is specified in the notification under paragraph (4).

 

(2) INTERNET ADVERTISING SERVICES- Except in the case of an effective counter notification pursuant to paragraph (5), an Internet advertising service that contracts with the operator of an Internet site, or portion thereof, that is specified in a notification delivered under paragraph (4), to provide advertising to or for such site or portion thereof, or that knowingly serves advertising to or for such site or portion thereof, shall take technically feasible and reasonable measures, as expeditiously as possible, but in any case within 5 days after delivery the notification under paragraph (4), that are designed to–

 

(A) prevent its service from providing advertisements to or relating to the Internet site, or portion thereof, that is specified in the notification;

 

(B) cease making available advertisements for such Internet site, or portion thereof, that is specified in the notification, or paid or sponsored search results, links, or other placements that provide access to such Internet site, or portion thereof, that is specified in the notification; and

 

(C) cease providing or receiving any compensation for advertising or related services to, from, or in connection with such Internet site, or portion thereof, that is specified in the notification.

 

(3) DESIGNATED AGENT-

 

(A) IN GENERAL- Each payment network provider and each Internet advertising service shall designate an agent to receive notifications described in paragraph (4), by making available through its service, including on its Web site in a location accessible to the public, and by providing to the Copyright Office, substantially the following:

 

(i) The name, address, phone number, and electronic mail address of the agent.

 

(ii) Other contact information that the Register of Copyrights considers appropriate.

 

(B) DIRECTORY OF AGENTS- The Register of Copyrights shall maintain and make available to the public for inspection, including through the Internet, in electronic format, a current directory of agents designated under subparagraph (A).

 

(4) NOTIFICATION REGARDING INTERNET SITES DEDICATED TO THEFT OF U.S. PROPERTY-

 

(A) REQUIREMENTS- Subject to subparagraph (B), a notification under this paragraph is effective only if it is a written communication that is provided to the designated agent of a payment network provider or an Internet advertising service and includes substantially the following:

 

(i) A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the holder of an intellectual property right harmed by the activities described in subsection (a)(1).

 

(ii) Identification of the Internet site, or portion thereof, dedicated to theft of U.S. property, including either the domain name or Internet Protocol address of such site, or both.

 

(iii) Identification of the specific facts to support the claim that the Internet site, or portion thereof, is dedicated to theft of U.S. property and to clearly show that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the holder of the intellectual property right harmed by the activities described in subsection (a)(1) in the absence of timely action by the payment network provider or Internet advertising service.

 

(iv) Information reasonably sufficient to establish that the payment network provider or Internet advertising service is providing payment processing or Internet advertising services for such site.

 

(v) Information reasonably sufficient to permit the payment network provider or Internet advertising service to contact the holder of the intellectual property right harmed by the activities described in subsection (a)(1).

 

(vi) A statement that the holder of the intellectual property right has a good faith belief that the use of the owner’s works or goods in which the right exists, in the manner described in the notification, is not authorized by the holder, its agent, or law.

 

(vii) A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and, under penalty of perjury, that the signatory is authorized to act on behalf of the holder of the intellectual property right harmed by the activities described in subsection (a)(1).

 

(viii) Identification of the evidence indicating that the site (or portion thereof) is a U.S.-directed site.

 

(B) SERVICE IF NO AGENT DESIGNATED- If a payment network provider or Internet advertising service has not designated an agent under paragraph (3), the notification under subparagraph (A) may be provided to any officer or legal representative of such provider or service.

 

(C) NOTICE TO INTERNET SITE IDENTIFIED IN NOTIFICATION- Upon receipt of an effective notification under this paragraph, a payment network provider or Internet advertising service shall take appropriate steps to ensure timely delivery of the notification to the Internet site identified in the notification.

 

(5) COUNTER NOTIFICATION-

 

(A) REQUIREMENTS- Subject to subparagraph (B), a counter notification is effective under this paragraph only if it is a written communication that is provided to the designated agent of a payment network provider or an Internet advertising service and includes substantially the following:

 

(i) A physical or electronic signature of the owner or operator of the Internet site, or portion thereof, specified in a notification under paragraph (4) subject to which action is to be taken by the payment network provider or Internet advertising service under paragraph (1) or (2), or of the registrant of the domain name used by such site or portion thereof.

 

(ii) In the case of an Internet site specified in the notification under paragraph (4) that is a foreign Internet site, a statement that the owner or operator, or registrant, consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States, and will accept service of process from the person who provided notification under paragraph (4), or an agent of such person, for purposes of adjudicating whether the site is an Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property under this section.

 

(iii) A statement under penalty of perjury that the owner or operator, or registrant, has a good faith belief that it does not meet the criteria of an Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property as set forth under this section.

 

(iv) The name, address, email address, and telephone number of the owner, operator, or registrant.

 

(B) SERVICE IF NO AGENT DESIGNATED- If a payment network provider or Internet advertising service has not designated an agent under paragraph (3), the counter notification under subparagraph (A) may be provided to any officer or legal representative of such provider or service.

 

(6) MISREPRESENTATIONS- Any provider of a notification or counter notification who knowingly materially misrepresents under this section–

 

(A) that a site is an Internet site dedicated to the theft of U.S. property, or

 

(B) that such site does not meet the criteria of an Internet site dedicated to the theft of U.S. property,

 

shall be liable for damages, including costs and attorneys’ fees, incurred by the person injured by such misrepresentation as a result of the misrepresentation.

 

(c) Limited Injunctive Relief in Cases of Counter Notification-

 

(1) IN PERSONAM- If an effective counter notification is made under subsection (b)(5), or if a payment network provider fails to comply with subsection (b)(1), or an Internet advertising service fails to comply with subsection (b)(2), pursuant to a notification under subsection (b)(4) in the absence of such a counter notification, a qualifying plaintiff may commence an in personam action against–

 

(A) a registrant of a domain name used by the Internet site, or portion thereof, that is subject to the notification under subsection (b)(4); or

 

(B) an owner or operator of the Internet site or portion thereof.

 

(2) IN REM- If through due diligence a qualifying plaintiff who is authorized to bring an in personam action under paragraph (1) with respect to an Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property is unable to find a person described in subparagraphs (A) or (B) of paragraph (1), or no such person found has an address within a judicial district of the United States, the qualifying plaintiff may commence an in rem action against that Internet site or the domain name used by such site.

 

(3) NOTICE- Upon commencing an action under this subsection, the qualifying plaintiff shall send a notice of the alleged activity described in subsection (a)(1) and intent to proceed under this subsection–

 

(A) to the registrant of the domain name of the Internet site, or portion thereof, that is the subject to the notification under subsection (b)(4)–

 

(i) at the postal and electronic mail addresses appearing in the applicable publicly accessible database of registrations, if any, and to the extent such addresses are reasonably available; and

 

(ii) via the postal and electronic mail addresses of the registrar, registry, or other domain name registration authority that registered or assigned the domain name of the Internet site, or portion thereof, to the extent such addresses are reasonably available;

 

(B) to the owner or operator of the Internet site, or portion thereof–

 

(i) at the primary postal and electronic mail addresses for such owner or operator that are provided on the Internet site, or portion thereof, if any, and to the extent such addresses are reasonably available; or

 

(ii) if there is no domain name of the Internet site or portion thereof, via the postal and electronic mail addresses of the Internet Protocol allocation entity appearing in the applicable publicly accessible database of allocations and assignments, if any, and to the extent such addresses are reasonably available; or

 

(C) in any other such form as the court may prescribe, including as may be required by rule 4(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

 

(4) SERVICE OF PROCESS- For purposes of this section, the actions described in this subsection shall constitute service of process.

 

(5) RELIEF- On application of a qualifying plaintiff following the commencement of an action under this section with respect to an Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property, the court may issue a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, or an injunction, in accordance with rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, against a registrant of a domain name used by the Internet site, or against an owner or operator of the Internet site, or, in an action brought in rem under paragraph (2), against the Internet site, or against the domain name used by the Internet site, to cease and desist from undertaking any further activity as an Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property.

 

(d) Actions Based on Court Orders-

 

(1) SERVICE AND RESPONSE-

 

(A) SERVICE BY QUALIFYING PLAINTIFF- A qualifying plaintiff, with the prior approval of the court, may serve a copy of a court order issued under subsection (c) on similarly situated entities described in paragraph (2). Proof of service shall be filed with the court.

 

(B) RESPONSE- An entity served under subparagraph (A) shall, not later than 7 days after the date of such service, file with the court a certification acknowledging receipt of a copy of the order and stating that such entity has complied or will comply with the obligations imposed under paragraph (2), or explaining why the entity will not so comply.

 

(C) VENUE FOR SERVICE- A copy of the court order may be served in any judicial district where an entity resides or may be found.

 

(2) REASONABLE MEASURES- After being served with a copy of an order pursuant to this subsection, the following shall apply:

 

(A) PAYMENT NETWORK PROVIDERS-

 

(i) PREVENTING AFFILIATION- A payment network provider shall take technically feasible and reasonable measures, as expeditiously as possible, but in any case within 5 days after being served with a copy of the court order, or within such time as the court may order, that are designed to prevent, prohibit, or suspend its service from completing payment transactions involving customers located within the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and any account–

 

(I) which is used by the Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property that is subject to the order; and

 

(II) through which the payment network provider would complete such payment transactions.

 

(ii) NO DUTY TO MONITOR- A payment network provider is in compliance with clause (i) if it takes action described in that clause with respect to accounts it has as of the date of service of the order, or as of the date of any subsequent notice that its service is being used to complete payment transactions described in clause (i).

 

(B) INTERNET ADVERTISING SERVICES-

 

(i) REQUIRED ACTIONS- An Internet advertising service that contracts with the Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property that is subject to the order to provide advertising to or for such Internet site, or that knowingly serves advertising to or for such internet site, shall take technically feasible and reasonable measures, as expeditiously as possible, but in any case within 5 days after being served with a copy of the order, or within such time as the court may order, that are designed to–

 

(I) prevent its service from providing advertisements to or relating to the Internet site;

 

(II) cease making available advertisements for the Internet site, or paid or sponsored search results, links, or other placements that provide access to the Internet site; and

 

(III) cease providing or receiving any compensation for advertising or related services to, from, or in connection with the Internet site.

 

(ii) NO DUTY TO MONITOR- An internet advertising service is in compliance with clause (i) if it takes action described in that clause with respect to accounts it has as of the date on which a copy of the order is served, or as of the date of any subsequent notice that its service is being used for activities described in clause (i).

 

(3) COMMUNICATION WITH USERS- An entity taking an action described in this subsection shall determine the means to communicate such action to the entity’s users or customers.

 

(4) ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS-

 

(A) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- The authority under this subsection shall be the sole legal remedy to enforce the obligations of any entity under this subsection.

 

(B) PROCEDURES AND RELIEF-

 

(i) SHOW CAUSE ORDER- On a showing by the qualifying plaintiff of probable cause to believe that an entity served with a copy of a court order issued under subsection (c) has not complied with its obligations under this subsection by reason of such court order, the court shall require the entity to show cause why an order should not issue–

 

(I) to require compliance with the obligations of this subsection; and

 

(II) to impose an appropriate monetary sanction, consistent with the court’s exercise of its equitable authority, to enforce compliance with its lawful orders, if the entity–

 

(aa) has knowingly and willfully failed to file a certification required by paragraph (1)(B);

 

(bb) has filed such a certification agreeing to comply but has knowingly and willfully failed to do so; or

 

(cc) has knowingly and willfully certified falsely that compliance with the requirements of paragraph (2) is not required by law.

 

(ii) SERVICE OF PROCESS- The order to show cause, and any other process, may be served in any judicial district where the entity resides or may be found.

 

(C) DEFENSE- An entity against whom relief is sought under subparagraph (B) may establish an affirmative defense by showing that the entity does not have the technical means to comply with this subsection without incurring an unreasonable economic burden, or that the order is not authorized by this subsection. Such showing shall not be presumed to be a complete defense but shall serve as a defense only for those measures for which a technical limitation on compliance is demonstrated or for such portions of the order as are demonstrated to be unauthorized by this subsection.

 

(5) IMMUNITY-

 

(A) IMMUNITY FROM SUIT- Other than in an action pursuant to paragraph (4), no cause of action shall lie in any Federal or State court or administrative agency against any entity served with a copy of a court order issued under subsection (c), or against any director, officer, employee, or agent thereof, for any act reasonably designed to comply with this subsection or reasonably arising from such order.

 

(B) IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY- Other than in an action pursuant to paragraph (4)–

 

(i) any entity served with a copy of an order under this subsection, and any director, officer, employee, or agent thereof, shall not be liable for any acts reasonably designed to comply with this subsection or reasonably arising from such order; and

 

(ii) any–

 

(I) actions taken by customers of such entity to circumvent any restriction on access to the Internet site, or portion thereof that is subject to such order, that is instituted pursuant to this subsection, or

 

(II) act, failure, or inability to restrict access to an Internet site or portion thereof that is subject to such order, despite good faith efforts to comply with such order by such entity,

 

shall not be used by any person in any claim or cause of action against such entity.

 

(e) Modification or Vacation of Orders-

 

(1) IN GENERAL- At any time after the issuance of an order under subsection (c), or an amended order issued under subsection (f), with respect to an Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property, a motion to modify, suspend, or vacate the order may be filed by–

 

(A) any person, or owner or operator of property, that is subject to the order;

 

(B) any registrant of the domain name, or the owner or operator, of such Internet site;

 

(C) any domain name registrar, registry, or other domain name registration authority that has registered or assigned the domain name of such Internet site; or

 

(D) any entity that has been served with a copy of an order under subsection (d), or an amended order under subsection (f), that requires such entity to take action prescribed in that subsection.

 

(2) RELIEF- Relief under this subsection shall be proper if the court finds that–

 

(A) the Internet site subject to the order is no longer, or never was, an Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property; or

 

(B) the interests of justice otherwise require that the order be modified, suspended, or vacated.

 

(3) CONSIDERATION- In making a relief determination under paragraph (2), a court may consider whether the domain name of the Internet site has expired or has been re-registered by an entity other than the entity that is subject to the order with respect to which the motion under paragraph (1) is brought.

 

(4) INTERVENTION- An entity required to take action pursuant to subsection (d) if an order issues under subsection (c) may intervene at any time in any action commenced under subsection (c) that may result in such order, or in any action to modify, suspend, or vacate such order under this subsection.

 

(f) Amended Orders- The qualifying plaintiff, if alleging that an Internet site previously adjudicated in an action under this section to be an Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property is accessible or has been reconstituted at a different domain name or Internet Protocol address, may petition the court to amend the order issued under this section accordingly.

 

(g) Reporting of Orders-

 

(1) IN GENERAL- The qualifying plaintiff shall inform the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator of any court order issued under subsection (c) or amended order issued under subsection (f).

 

(2) ALTERATIONS- Upon the modification, suspension, expiration, or vacation of a court order issued under subsection (c) or an amended order issued under subsection (f), the qualifying plaintiff shall, and the defendant may, so inform the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator.

 

SEC. 104. IMMUNITY FOR TAKING VOLUNTARY ACTION AGAINST SITES DEDICATED TO THEFT OF U.S. PROPERTY.

 

No cause of action shall lie in any Federal or State court or administrative agency against, no person may rely in any claim or cause of action against, and no liability for damages to any person shall be granted against, a service provider, payment network provider, Internet advertising service, advertiser, Internet search engine, domain name registry, or domain name registrar for taking any action described in section 102(c)(2), section 103(d)(2), or section 103(b) with respect to an Internet site, or otherwise voluntarily blocking access to or ending financial affiliation with an Internet site, in the reasonable belief that–

 

(1) the Internet site is a foreign infringing site or is an Internet site dedicated to theft of U.S. property; and

 

(2) the action is consistent with the entity’s terms of service or other contractual rights.

 

SEC. 105. IMMUNITY FOR TAKING VOLUNTARY ACTION AGAINST SITES THAT ENDANGER PUBLIC HEALTH.

 

(a) Refusal of Service- A service provider, payment network provider, Internet advertising service, advertiser, Internet search engine, domain name registry, or domain name registrar, acting in good faith and based on credible evidence, may stop providing or refuse to provide services to an Internet site that endangers the public health.

 

(b) Immunity From Liability- An entity described in subsection (a), including its directors, officers, employees, or agents, that ceases or refuses to provide services under subsection (a) shall not be liable to any person under any Federal or State law for such action.

 

(c) Definitions- In this section:

 

(1) ADULTERATED- The term ‘adulterated’ has the meaning given that term in section 501 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 351).

 

(2) INTERNET SITE THAT ENDANGERS THE PUBLIC HEALTH- The term ‘Internet site that endangers the public health’ means an Internet site that is primarily designed or operated for the purpose of, has only limited purpose or use other than, or is marketed by its operator or another acting in concert with that operator for use in–

 

(A) offering, selling, dispensing, or distributing any prescription medication, and does so regularly without a valid prescription; or

 

(B) offering, selling, dispensing, or distributing any prescription medication that is adulterated or misbranded.

 

(3) MISBRANDED- the term ‘misbranded’ has the meaning given that term in section 502 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 352).

 

(4) PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION-

 

(A) PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION- The term ‘prescription medication’ means a drug that is subject to section 503(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 353(b)).

 

(B) DRUG- The term ‘drug’ has the meaning given that term in section 201(g)(1) of the Federal Food Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1)).

 

(5) VALID PRESCRIPTION- The term ‘valid prescription’ has the meaning given that term in section 309(e)(2)(A) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 829(e)(2)(A)).

 

SEC. 106. GUIDELINES AND STUDY.

 

(a) Guidelines- The Attorney General shall–

 

(1) provide appropriate resources and procedures for case management and development to effect timely disposition of actions brought under this title;

 

(2) develop a deconfliction process in consultation with appropriate law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to coordinate enforcement activities under this title;

 

(3) publish procedures developed in consultation with appropriate law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to receive information from the public relevant to the enforcement of this title; and

 

(4) provide guidance to intellectual property rights holders about what information such rights holders should provide to assist in initiating an investigation or to supplement an ongoing investigation pursuant to this title.

 

(b) Study-

 

(1) NATURE OF STUDY- The Register of Copyrights, in consultation with appropriate departments and agencies of the United States and other stakeholders, shall conduct a study on the enforcement and effectiveness of this title and on any need to amend the provisions of this title to adapt to emerging technologies.

 

(2) REPORTS TO CONGRESS- Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Register of Copyrights shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the results of the study conducted under this subsection and any recommendations that the Register may have as a result of the study.

 

SEC. 107. DENYING U.S. CAPITAL TO NOTORIOUS FOREIGN INFRINGERS.

 

(a) Identification and Recommendations Regarding Notorious Foreign Infringers-

 

(1) IN GENERAL- Using existing resources, the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, in consultation with the Secretaries of Treasury and Commerce, the United States Trade Representative, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the heads of other departments and appropriate agencies, shall identify and conduct an analysis of notorious foreign infringers whose activities cause significant harm to holders of intellectual property rights in the United States.

 

(2) PUBLIC INPUT- In carrying out paragraph (1), the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator shall solicit and give consideration to the views and recommendations of members of the public, including holders of intellectual property rights in the United States.

 

(b) Report to Congress- The Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator shall, not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that includes the following:

 

(1) An analysis of notorious foreign infringers and a discussion of how these infringers violate industry norms regarding the protection of intellectual property.

 

(2) An analysis of the significant harm inflicted by notorious foreign infringers on consumers, businesses, and intellectual property industries in the United States and abroad.

 

(3) An examination of whether notorious foreign infringers have attempted to or succeeded in accessing capital markets in the United States for funding or public offerings.

 

(4) An analysis of the adequacy of relying upon foreign governments to pursue legal action against notorious foreign infringers.

 

(5) A discussion of specific policy recommendations to deter the activities of notorious foreign infringers and encourage foreign businesses to adopt industry norms that promote the protection of intellectual property globally, including addressing–

 

(A) whether notorious foreign infringers that engage in significant infringing activity should be prohibited by the laws of the United States from seeking to raise capital in the United States, including offering stock for sale to the public; and

 

(B) whether the United States Government should initiate a process to identify and designate foreign entities from a list of notorious foreign infringers that would be prohibited from raising capital in the United States.

 

TITLE II–ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS TO COMBAT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT

 

SEC. 201. STREAMING OF COPYRIGHTED WORKS IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL LAW.

 

(a) Title 17 Amendments- Section 506(a) of title 17, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

 

‘(a) Criminal Infringement-

 

‘(1) IN GENERAL- Any person who willfully infringes a copyright shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18, if the infringement was committed–

 

‘(A) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain;

 

‘(B) by the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, or by the public performance by means of digital transmission, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copyrighted works, when the total retail value of the copies or phonorecords, or of the public performances, is more than $1,000; or

 

‘(C) by the distribution or public performance of a work being prepared for commercial dissemination, by making it available on a computer network accessible to members of the public, if such person knew or should have known that the work was intended for commercial dissemination.

 

‘(2) EVIDENCE- For purposes of this subsection, evidence of reproduction, distribution, or public performance of a copyrighted work, by itself, shall not be sufficient to establish willful infringement of a copyright.

 

‘(3) DEFINITION- In this subsection, the term ‘work being prepared for commercial dissemination’ means–

 

‘(A) a computer program, a musical work, a motion picture or other audiovisual work, or a sound recording, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution or public performance–

 

‘(i)(I) the copyright owner has a reasonable expectation of commercial distribution; and

 

‘(II) the copies or phonorecords of the work have not been commercially distributed in the United States by or with the authorization of the copyright owner; or

 

‘(ii)(I) the copyright owner does not intend to offer copies of the work for commercial distribution but has a reasonable expectation of other forms of commercial dissemination of the work; and

 

‘(II) the work has not been commercially disseminated to the public in the United States by or with the authorization of the copyright owner;

 

‘(B) a motion picture, if, at the time of unauthorized distribution or public performance, the motion picture–

 

‘(i)(I) has been made available for viewing in a motion picture exhibition facility; and

 

‘(II) has not been made available in copies for sale to the general public in the United States by or with the authorization of the copyright owner in a format intended to permit viewing outside a motion picture exhibition facility; or

 

‘(ii) had not been commercially disseminated to the public in the United States by or with the authorization of the copyright owner more than 24 hours before the unauthorized distribution or public performance.’.

 

(b) Title 18 Amendments- Section 2319 of title 18, United States Code, is amended–

 

(1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘during any 180-day period’ and all that follows and insert ‘of at least 10 copies or phonorecords, or of at least 10 public performances by means of digital transmission, of 1 or more copyrighted works, during any 180-day period, which have a total retail value of more than $2,500;’;

 

(2) in subsection (c)–

 

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘of 10 or more copies or phonorecords’ and all that follows and inserting ‘including by electronic means, of at least 10 copies or phonorecords, or of at least 10 public performances by means of digital transmission, of 1 or more copyrighted works, during any 180-day period, which have a total retail value of more than $2,500;’; and

 

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘if the offense’ and all that follows and inserting ‘in any other case;’;

 

(3) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ‘under paragraph (2)’ and inserting ‘committed for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain under subsection (a)’;

 

(4) in subsection (f)–

 

(A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:

 

‘(2) the terms ‘reproduction’, ‘distribution’, and ‘public performance’ refer to the exclusive rights of a copyright owner under paragraphs (1), (3), (4), and (6), respectively, of section 106 (relating to exclusive rights in copyrighted works), as limited by sections 107 through 122, of title 17; and’;

 

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘; and’ and inserting a period; and

 

(C) by striking paragraph (4); and

 

(5) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

 

‘(g) Evidence of Total Retail Value- For purposes of this section and section 506(a) of title 17, total retail value may be shown by evidence of–

 

‘(1) the total retail price that persons receiving the reproductions, distributions, or public performances constituting the offense would have paid to receive such reproductions, distributions, or public performances lawfully;

 

‘(2) the total economic value of the reproductions, distributions, or public performances to the infringer or to the copyright owner, as shown by evidence of fee, advertising, or other revenue that was received by the person who commits the offense, or that the copyright owner would have been entitled to receive had such reproductions, distributions, or public performances been offered lawfully; or

 

‘(3) the total fair market value of licenses to offer the type of reproductions, distributions, or public performances constituting the offense.’.

 

(c) Rule of Construction- Any person acting with a good faith reasonable basis in law to believe that the person’s conduct is lawful shall not be considered to have acted willfully for purposes of the amendments made by this section. Such person includes, but is not limited to, a person engaged in conduct forming the basis of a bona fide commercial dispute over the scope of existence of a contract or license governing such conduct where such person has a reasonable basis in law to believe that such conduct is noninfringing. Nothing in this subsection shall affect the application or interpretation of the willfulness requirement in any other provision of civil or criminal law.

 

SEC. 202. TRAFFICKING IN INHERENTLY DANGEROUS GOODS OR SERVICES.

 

Section 2320 of title 18, United States Code, is amended as follows:

 

(1) Subsection (a) is amended to read as follows:

 

‘(1) IN GENERAL-

 

‘(A) OFFENSES- Whoever–

 

‘(i) intentionally traffics or attempts to traffic in goods or services and knowingly uses a counterfeit mark on or in connection with such goods or services,

 

‘(ii) intentionally traffics or attempts to traffic in labels, patches, stickers, wrappers, badges, emblems, medallions, charms, boxes, containers, cans, cases, hangtags, documentation, or packaging of any type or nature, knowing that a counterfeit mark has been applied thereto, the use of which is likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake, or to deceive, or

 

‘(iii) intentionally imports, exports, or traffics in counterfeit drugs or intentionally participates in or knowingly aids drug counterfeiting,

 

shall, if an individual, be fined not more than $2,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both, and, if a person other than an individual, be fined not more than $5,000,000.

 

‘(B) SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES- In the case of an offense by a person under this paragraph that occurs after that person is convicted of another offense under this paragraph, the person convicted, if an individual, shall be fined not more than $5,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both, and if other than an individual, shall be fined not more than $15,000,000.

 

‘(2) SERIOUS BODILY HARM OR DEATH-

 

‘(A) SERIOUS BODILY HARM- If the offender knowingly or recklessly causes or attempts to cause serious bodily injury from conduct in violation of paragraph (1), the penalty shall be, for an individual, a fine of not more than $5,000,000 or imprisonment for any term of years or for life, or both, and for other than an individual, a fine of not more than $15,000,000.

 

‘(B) DEATH- If the offender knowingly or recklessly causes or attempts to cause death from conduct in violation of paragraph (1), the penalty shall be, for an individual, a fine of not more than $5,000,000 or imprisonment for any term of years or for life, or both, and for other than an individual, a fine of not more than $15,000,000.

 

‘(3) MILITARY GOODS OR SERVICES-

 

‘(A) IN GENERAL- A person who commits an offense under paragraph (1) shall be punished in accordance with subparagraph (B) if–

 

‘(i) the offense involved a good or service described in paragraph (1) that if it malfunctioned, failed, or was compromised, could reasonably be foreseen to cause–

 

‘(I) serious bodily injury or death;

 

‘(II) disclosure of classified information;

 

‘(III) impairment of combat operations; or

 

‘(IV) other significant harm–

 

‘(aa) to a member–

 

‘(AA) of the Armed Forces; or

 

‘(BB) of a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency; or

 

‘(bb) to national security or critical infrastructure; and

 

‘(ii) the person had knowledge that the good or service is falsely identified as meeting military standards or is intended for use in a military or national security application, or a law enforcement or critical infrastructure application.

 

‘(B) PENALTIES-

 

‘(i) INDIVIDUAL- An individual who commits an offense described in subparagraph (A) shall be fined not more than $5,000,000, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both.

 

‘(ii) PERSON OTHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL- A person other than an individual that commits an offense described in subparagraph (A) shall be fined not more than $15,000,000.

 

‘(C) SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES-

 

‘(i) INDIVIDUAL- An individual who commits an offense described in subparagraph (A) after the individual is convicted of an offense under subparagraph (A) shall be fined not more than $15,000,000, imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.

 

‘(ii) PERSON OTHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL- A person other than an individual that commits an offense described in subparagraph (A) after the person is convicted of an offense under subparagraph (A) shall be fined not more than $30,000,000.’.

 

(2) Subsection (e) is amended–

 

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon;

 

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘and’ at the end;

 

(C) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

 

(D) by adding at the end the following:

 

‘(5) the term ‘counterfeit drug’ has the meaning given that term in section 201(g)(2) of the Federal Food Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(g)(2));

 

‘(6) the term ‘critical infrastructure’ has the meaning given that term in section 2339D(c);

 

‘(7) the term ‘drug counterfeiting’ means any act prohibited by section 301(i) of the Federal Food Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 331(i));

 

‘(8) the term ‘final dosage form’ has the meaning given that term in section 735(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 379g(4));

 

‘(9) the term ‘falsely identified as meeting military standards’ relating to a good or service means there is a material misrepresentation that the good or service meets a standard, requirement, or specification issued by the Department of Defense, an Armed Force, or a reserve component;

 

‘(10) the term ‘use in a military or national security application’ means the use of a good or service, independently, in conjunction with, or as a component of another good or service–

 

‘(A) during the performance of the official duties of the Armed Forces of the United States or the reserve components of the Armed Forces; or

 

‘(B) by the United States to perform or directly support–

 

‘(i) combat operations; or

 

‘(ii) critical national defense or national security functions; and

 

‘(11) the term ‘use in a law enforcement or critical infrastructure application’ means the use of a good or service, independently, in conjunction with, or as a component of, another good or service by a person who is directly engaged in–

 

‘(A) Federal, State, or local law enforcement; or

 

‘(B) an official function pertaining to critical infrastructure.’.

 

SEC. 203. PROTECTING U.S. BUSINESSES FROM FOREIGN AND ECONOMIC ESPIONAGE.

 

(a) For Offenses Committed by Individuals- Section 1831(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended, in the matter after paragraph (5)–

 

(1) by striking ‘15 years’ and inserting ‘20 years’; and

 

(2) by striking ‘not more than $500,000’ and inserting ‘not less than $1,000,000 and not more than $5,000,000’.

 

(b) For Offenses Committed by Organizations- Section 1831(b) of such title is amended by striking ‘$10,000,000’ and inserting ‘not more than the greater of $10,000,000 or 3 times the value of the stolen trade secret to the organization (including expenses for research and design or other costs of reproducing the trade secret that the organization has thereby avoided)’.

 

SEC. 204. AMENDMENTS TO SENTENCING GUIDELINES.

 

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission shall–

 

(1) review, and if appropriate, amend Federal Sentencing Guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of–

 

(A) intellectual property offenses;

 

(2) in carrying out such review, consider amending such Guidelines and policy statements to–

 

(A) apply an appropriate offense level enhancement for intellectual property offenses committed in connection with an organized criminal enterprise;

 

(B) apply an appropriate offense level enhancement to the simple misappropriation of a trade secret;

 

(C) apply an additional appropriate offense level enhancement if the defendant transmits or attempts to transmit the stolen trade secret outside of the United States and an additional appropriate enhancement if the defendant instead commits economic espionage;

 

(D) provide that when a defendant transmits trade secrets outside of the United States or commits economic espionage, that the defendant should face a minimum offense level;

 

(E) provide for an offense level enhancement for Guidelines relating to the theft of trade secrets and economic espionage, including trade secrets transferred or attempted to be transferred outside of the United States;

 

(F) apply an appropriate offense level enhancement and minimum offense level for offenses under section 2320(a) of title 18, United States Code, that involve a product intended for use in a military or national security application, or a law enforcement or critical infrastructure application;

 

(G) ensure that the Guidelines and policy statements (including section 2B5.3 of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines (and any successor thereto)) reflect–

 

(i) the serious nature of the offenses described in section 2320(a) of title 18, United States Code;

 

(ii) the need for an effective deterrent and appropriate punishment to prevent offenses under section 2320(a) of title 18, United States Code; and

 

(iii) the effectiveness of incarceration in furthering the objectives described in clauses (i) and (ii); and

 

(H) ensure reasonable consistency with other relevant directives and Guidelines and Federal statutes;

 

(3) submit to Congress a report detailing the Commission’s actions with respect to each potential amendment described in paragraph (2);

 

(4) make such conforming amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines as the Commission determines necessary to achieve consistency with other Guideline provisions and applicable law; and

 

(5) promulgate the Guidelines, policy statements, or amendments provided for in this section as soon as practicable in accordance with the procedure set forth in section 21(a) of the Sentencing Act of 1987 (28 U.S.C. 994 note), as though the authority under that Act had not expired.

 

SEC. 205. DEFENDING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ABROAD.

 

(a) Resources To Protect Intellectual Property Rights-

 

(1) POLICY- The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Register of Copyrights, shall ensure that the protection in foreign countries of the intellectual property rights of United States persons is a significant component of United States foreign and commercial policy in general, and in relations with individual countries in particular.

 

(2) DEDICATION OF RESOURCES- The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Register of Copyrights, and the heads of other appropriate departments and agencies, shall ensure that adequate resources are available at the United States embassy or diplomatic mission (as the case may be) in any country that is identified under section 182(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2242(a)(1)) to ensure–

 

(A) aggressive support for enforcement action against violations of the intellectual property rights of United States persons in such country;

 

(B) cooperation with and support for the host government’s efforts to conform its applicable laws, regulations, practices, and processes to enable the host government to honor its international and bilateral obligations with respect to the protection of intellectual property rights;

 

(C) consistency with the policy and country-specific priorities set forth in the most recent report of USTR under such section 182(a)(1); and

 

(D) support for holders of United States intellectual property rights and industries whose access to foreign markets is improperly restricted by intellectual property related issues.

 

(b) New Appointments-

 

(1) APPOINTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION- The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Register of Copyrights, shall appoint at least one intellectual property attache to be assigned to the United States embassy or diplomatic mission (as the case may be) in a country in each geographic region covered by a regional bureau of the Department of State. The Director of the Patent and Trademark Office shall maintain authority over hiring, personnel ratings, and objectives for the attaches, in consultation with the Secretary of State. Depending on experience and expertise, intellectual property attaches shall be designated as the diplomatic rank in-mission of First Secretary or Counselor.

 

(2) REGIONS DEFINED- The geographic regions referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:

 

(A) Africa.

 

(B) Europe and Eurasia.

 

(C) East Asia and the Pacific.

 

(D) The Near East.

 

(E) South and Central Asia and the Pacific.

 

(F) The Western Hemisphere.

 

(3) DUTIES- The intellectual property attaches appointed under this subsection shall focus primarily on intellectual property matters, including the development, protection, and enforcement of applicable law. Each intellectual property attache shall work, in accordance with guidance from the Director, and in coordination with appropriate staff at the Departments of Commerce and State and the Copyright Office, to advance the policy goals and priorities of the United States Government. Those policy goals and priorities shall be consistent with USTR’s reports under section 182(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974. The intellectual property attaches shall work with United States holders of intellectual property rights and industry to address intellectual property rights violations in the countries where the attaches are assigned.

 

(c) Priority Assignments-

 

(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraph (2), in designating the United States embassies or diplomatic missions where attaches will be assigned under subsection (b), the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall give priority to countries where the activities of an attache are likely to achieve the greatest potential benefit in reducing intellectual property infringement in the United States market, to advance the intellectual property rights of United States persons and their licensees, and to advance the interests of United States persons who may otherwise be harmed by violations of intellectual property rights in those countries.

 

(2) ASSIGNMENTS TO PRIORITY COUNTRIES- In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall consider assigning intellectual property attaches–

 

(A) to the countries that have been identified under section 182(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2242(a)(1)); and

 

(B) to countries of critical economic importance to the advancement of United States intellectual property rights and interests.

 

(d) Training- The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall ensure that each intellectual property attache appointed under subsection (b) is fully trained for the responsibilities of the position before assuming duties at the United States embassy or diplomatic mission to which the attache is assigned.

 

(e) Coordination- The activities of intellectual property attaches under this section shall be determined in consultation with the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator. The Director shall assist in coordinating the policy priorities and activities of the intellectual property attaches and oversee administrative and personnel matters.

 

(f) Training and Technical Assistance-

 

(1) CONSISTENCY- Using existing resources, all training and technical assistance provided by intellectual property attaches appointed under subsection (b), or under other authority, relating to intellectual property enforcement and protection abroad shall be designed to be consistent with the policy and country-specific priorities set forth in the most recent report of USTR under section 182(a) of the Trade Act of 1974.

 

(2) ROLE OF IPEC- Such training and technical assistance programs shall be carried out in consultation with the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator. The Director shall assist in coordinating the training and technical assistance programs conducted by intellectual property attaches.

 

(g) Activities in Other Countries- In the case of countries that are not identified under section 182(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, the activities of Federal departments and agencies with respect to intellectual property rights in those countries, intellectual property programs and outreach of the United States Government in those countries, and training and technical assistance programs of the United States Government relating to intellectual property in those countries may be conducted to the extent they are consistent with compelling commercial or foreign policy interests of the United States.

 

(h) Reports to Congress- The Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator shall include in the annual report submitted under section 314 of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 8114) on the activities of the advisory committee established under section 301 of that Act (15 U.S.C. 8111) information on the appointment, designation for assignment, and activities of all intellectual property attaches of any Federal department or agency who are serving abroad.

 

(i) Definitions- In this section:

 

(1) DIRECTOR- The terms ‘Director of the Patent and Trademark Office’ and ‘Director’ mean the Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the Untied States Patent and Trademark Office.

 

(2) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT- The term ‘intellectual property enforcement’ has the meaning given that term in section 302 of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 8112).

 

(3) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT COORDINATOR- The term ‘Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator’ means the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator appointed under section 301 of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 8111).

 

(4) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS- The term ‘intellectual property rights’ means the rights of holders of copyrights, patents, trademarks, other forms of intellectual property, and trade secrets.

 

(5) USTR- The term ‘USTR’ means the United States Trade Representative.

 

(6) UNITED STATES PERSON- The term ‘United States person’ means–

 

(A) any United States resident or national;

 

(B) any corporation, partnership, other business entity, or other organization, that is organized under the laws of the United States; and

 

(C) any foreign subsidiary or affiliate (including any permanent foreign establishment) of any corporation, partnership, business entity, or organization described in subparagraph (B), that is controlled in fact by such corporation, partnership, business entity, or organization.

 

(j) Authorization of Appropriations- The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall provide for the training and support of the intellectual property attaches appointed under subsection (b) using existing resources.

~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 
 
 

Who’s Giving What Candidate The Money?

Posted by: Ted in Ted's Soapbox 2.5 No Comments »

I was looking at the Open Secrets website to see who is giving money to the candidates and I was a little supprised at who it was. (note that the name of the corportions, business, service ect are what the contributors put down as their employment company, business, service ect.)

Willard Mitt Romney‘s biggest contributor are from: Goldman Sachs $367,200, Credit Suisse Group $203,750, Morgan Stanley $199,800, HIG Capital $186,500, Barclays $157,750, Kirkland & Ellis $132,100, Bank of America $126,500, PriceWaterhouseCoopers $118,250, EMC Corp $117,300, JPMorgan Chase & Co $112,250, The Villages $97,500, Vivint Inc $80,750, Marriott International $79,837, Sullivan & Cromwell $79,250, Bain Capital $74,500, UBS AG $73,750, Wells Fargo $61,500, Blackstone Group $59,800, Citigroup Inc $57,050, Bain & Co $52,500.

The breakdown: Individual Contributions 29,210,817 (99%),  Small Individual Contributions$32,035,088 (10%), – Large Individual Contributions 3,091,873 (91%), PAC Contributions $177,301 (1%), Candidate self-financing $0 (0%), Federal Funds $0 (0%), Other $0 (0%).

  Barack Obama‘s top contributors are from: Microsoft Corp $171,573, Comcast Corp $113,800, University of California $107,501, Harvard University $99,975, Google Inc $95,066, DLA Piper $75,375, Skadden, Arps et al $69,374, Chopper Trading $64,815, Stanford University $62,928, Time Warner $62,600, Ballard, Spahr et al $62,300, National Amusements Inc $62,100, Arnold & Porter $54,700, Goldman Sachs $50,124, Columbia University $49,347, Latham & Watkins $49,082, Exelon Corp $48,625, US Dept of State $48,077, Mayer Brown LLP $47,700, Sidley Austin LLP $44,825. 

The breakdown: Individual Contributions $63,574,083 (74%),  Small Individual Contributions 41,183,326 (48%),  Large Individual Contributions 23,775,177 (28%), PAC Contributions $0 (0%), Candidate self-financing $0 (0%), Federal Funds $0 (0%), Other $22,198,177 (26%).

Newt Gingrich‘s top contributors are from: Rock-Tenn Co $27,500, Poet LLC $20,000, First Fiscal Fund $15,000, Pull-A-Part Inc $15,000, Amway/Alticor Inc $10,000, State Mutual Insurance $10,000, American Fruits & Flavors $10,000, Streck Inc $10,000, Windway Capital $9,600, Wirco Inc $8,500, McKenna, Long & Aldridge $7,500, Blackstone Group $7,000, Richardson Properties $7,000, Wells Fargo $5,900, J Smith Lanier & Co $5,000, American Solutions PAC $5,000, Woody’s Smokehouse $5,000, AFLAC Inc $5,000, American General Corp $5,000, Clark Consulting $5,000.

The breakdown: Individual Contributions$2,857,355 (99%),  Small Individual Contributions1,245,184 (43%),  Large Individual Contributions 1,624,596 (56%), PAC Contributions $40,000 (1%), Candidate self-financing $0 (0%), Federal Funds $0 (0%), Other $598 (0%).

 Rick Santorum‘s top contributors are from: Blue Cross/Blue Shield $18,000, Universal Health Services $17,250, Kimber Manufacturing $12,300, El Dorado Holdings $10,000, Achristavest $10,000, CONSOL Energy $8,500. Diamond Manufacturing $8,000, Northwestern Mutual Life $7,650, Pride Mobility Products $6,000, Gleason Agency $5,250, NetApp $5,250, Conestoga Wood Specialties $5,250, Citizens United $5,000, Shinn & Co $5,000, Group Fox Inc $5,000, Newsome Eye Clinic $5,000, Neal Communities $5,000, Energy Alchemy $5,000, Medallion Enterprises $5,000, Mako Global $5,000.

The breakdown: Individual Contributions $1,210,543 (94%),  Small Individual Contributions 267,534 (21%),  Large Individual Contributions 945,509 (73%), PAC Contributions $31,232 (2%), Candidate self-financing $45,199 (4%), Federal Funds $0 (0%), Other $0 (0%).

 Ron Paul‘s top contributors are from: US Army $24,503, US Air Force $23,335, US Navy $17,432, Mason Capital Management $14,000, Microsoft Corp $13,398, Boeing Co $10,620, Google Inc $10,390, Overland Sheepskin $10,350, IBM Corp $8,294, US Government $7,756, DUNN Capital Management $7,500, Corriente Advisors $7,500, Greenstreet Co $7,500, Northrop Grumman $7,272, Lockheed Martin $7,208, Intel Corp $6,855, US Dept of Defense $6,524, United Technologies $6,316, Federal Express Corp $6,255, Entergy Corp $5,950.

The breakdown: Individual Contributions $12,122,816 (96%),  Small Individual Contributions 6,075,354 (48%),  Large Individual Contributions 6,114,372 (48%), PAC Contributions $0 (0%), Candidate self-financing $0 (0%), Federal Funds $0 (0%), Other $500,605 (4%).  (I find it amazing that so many from the military, government and defence industries contribute so much to Dr Paul, since he is a candidate who calls for the reduction of government and military)

 Gary Johnson‘s top contributors are from: Tower Energy Group $10,000, Welcom Products $5,000, Corriente Advisors $5,000, Ryan LLC $5,000, Zyvex Corp $2,500, Google Inc $2,500, Netburner $2,500, DUNN Capital Management $2,500, St Jude Medical Center $2,500, Rogue Engineering $2,500, Jalapeno Corp $2,500, EOG Resources $2,500, Whole Foods Market $2,500, Abruzzo Development $2,500, Columbia College/Chicago $2,500, Morning Star Co $2,500, McDaniel Technical Assoc $2,500, Maple Engine $2,500, Aleth Objects $2,500, Scion Capital Group $2,490.

The breakdown: Individual Contributions $416,431 (100%), Small Individual Contributions 108,199 (26%), Large Individual Contributions 308,231 (74%), PAC Contributions $0 (0%), Candidate self-financing $0 (0%), Federal Funds $0 (0%), Other $0 (0%).  (I do admit that Gov Johnson is my candidate of choice at this time).

You can check out the other candidates at Open Secrets.

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Total casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 6327

Deaths by Conflict:
Operation Enduring Freedom :1857
Operation Iraqi Freedom :4403
Operation New Dawn :67
21 year old  Army Pfc. Neil I. Turner

Santorum ‘s America – With God’s Laws

Posted by: Ted in Ted's Soapbox 2.5 No Comments »

On this day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announces to Congress that he is authorizing the largest armaments production in the history of the United States.

~~~~~~~~~~

Santorum wants to impose conservative Christian law upon America.

Santorum is not hiding this one bit. At a November campaign stop in Iowa in no uncertain terms, he said,  ”our civil laws have to comport with a higher law: God’s law.”  Then again on  Thanksgiving Day at an Iowa candidates’ forum, he again said: “We have civil laws, but our civil laws have to comport with the higher law.”

But when Santorum says “God,” he doesn’t mean any God maybe not even your God,  but  the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, Basically the God of Christians and Jews.” And if you don’t believe in that God, you are just shit out of luck.

 Last week when Santorum was asked about his opposition to gay marriage his reply was that ”We have Judeo-Christian values that are based on biblical truth.  And those truths don’t change just because people’s attitudes may change.”

 What type of nation might the United States be under Rick Santorum’s “God’s Law system”? To name a couple of things:

1. Rape victims would be forced to give birth to the rapist’s child. Santorum has stated that his religious beliefs dictate that life begins at conception, and as a result, rape victims would be sentenced to carrying the child of the rapist for nine months.

2. Gay marriages would be annulled. Santorum recently declared that not only does he oppose gay marriages, but he supports a federal constitutional amendment that would ban them, invalidating all previous gay marriages that have legally been sanctioned by states and thus callously destroying marriages and thrusting families into chaos.

And since he has signed the “The Marrage Vow”, A Declaration of Dependence upon MARRIAGE and FAMILY,  we can only figure that he would attempt to get laws passed that would negate the first amendment of our constitution, by banning our access to books that offer a different view, pornogrophy, and possibly different versions of the bible that differ from the one he uses.  

Source:  CNN

Thomas Jefferson must be rolling over in his grave

~~~~~~~~~~

I

THE MARRIAGE VOW
A Declaration of Dependence upon MARRIAGE and FAMILY

1. Faithful monogamy is at the very heart of a designed and purposeful order – as conveyed by Jewish and Christian Scripture, by Classical Philosophers, by Natural Law, and by the American Founders – upon which our concepts of Creator-endowed human rights, racial justice and gender equality all depend.

2. Enduring marital fidelity between one man and one woman protects innocent children, vulnerable women, the rights of fathers, the stability of families, and the liberties of all American citizens under our republican form of government. Our exceptional and free society simply cannot endure without the transmission of personal virtue, from one generation to the next, by means of nurturing, nuclear families comprised of sexually-faithful husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. We acknowledge and regret the widespread hypocrisy of many who defend marriage yet turn a blind eye toward the epidemic of infidelity and the anemic condition of marriages in their own communities. Unmistakably, the Institution of Marriage in America is in great crisis:
            (A) LBJ‟s 1965 War on Poverty was triggered in part by the famous “Moynihan Report” finding that the black out-of-wedlock birthrate had hit 26%; today, the white rate exceeds that,    the overall rate is 41%, and over 70% of African-American babies are born to single parents a prime sociological indicator for poverty, pathology and prison regardless of race or ethnicity. 

          (B) About one million U.S. children suffer through divorce each year – the outcome of about half of all first marriages and about 60 percent of remarriages, disproportionately affecting economically-vulnerable families.

          (C) The taxpayer-borne social costs of family fragmentation exceeds $112 billion per year, especially when all costs to the justice system are recognized.

          (D) Social protections, especially for women and children, have been evaporating as we have collectively “debased the currency” of marriage. This debasement continues as a function of adultery; “quickie divorce;” physical and verbal spousal abuse; non-committal co-habitation; pervasive infidelity and “unwed cheating” among celebrities, sports figures and politicians; anti-scientific bias which holds, in complete absence of empirical proof, that non-heterosexual inclinations are genetically determined, irresistible and akin to innate traits like race, gender and eye color; as well as anti-scientific bias which holds, against all empirical evidence, that homosexual behavior in particular, and sexual promiscuity in general, optimizes individual or public health.

II
The Candidate Vow:

Therefore, in any elected or appointed capacity by which I may have the honor of serving our fellow citizens in these United States, I the undersigned do hereby solemnly vow* to honor and to cherish, to defend and to uphold, the Institution of Marriage as only between one man and one woman. I vow* to do so through my:
          (A) Personal fidelity to my spouse.

         (B) Respect for the marital bonds of others.

          (C) Official fidelity to the U.S. Constitution, supporting the elevation of none but faithful constitutionalists as judges or justices.

          (D) Vigorous opposition to any redefinition of the Institution of Marriage – faithful monogamy between one man and one woman – through statutory-, bureaucratic-, or court-imposed recognition of intimate unions which are bigamous, polygamous, polyandrous, same-sex, etc.

          (E) Recognition of the overwhelming statistical evidence that married people enjoy better health, better sex, longer lives, greater financial stability, and that children raised by a mother and a father together experience better learning, less addiction, less legal trouble, and less extramarital pregnancy.

          (F) Support for prompt reform of uneconomic, anti-marriage aspects of welfare policy, tax policy, and marital/divorce law, and extended “second chance” or “cooling-off” periods for those seeking a “quickie divorce.”

          (G) Earnest, bona fide legal advocacy for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) at the federal and state levels.

          (H) Steadfast embrace of a federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which protects the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman in all of the United States.

          (I) Humane protection of women and the innocent fruit of conjugal intimacy – our next generation of American children – from human trafficking, sexual slavery, seduction into promiscuity, and all forms of pornography and prostitution, infanticide, abortion and other types of coercion or stolen innocence.

          (J) Support for the enactment of safeguards for all married and unmarried U.S. Military and National Guard personnel, especially our combat troops, from inappropriate same-gender or opposite-gender sexual harassment, adultery or intrusively intimate commingling among attracteds (restrooms, showers, barracks, tents, etc.); plus prompt termination of military policymakers who would expose American wives and daughters to rape or sexual harassment, torture, enslavement or sexual leveraging by the enemy in forward combat roles.

          (K) Rejection of Sharia Islam and all other anti-woman, anti-human rights forms of totalitarian control.

          (L) Recognition that robust childbearing and reproduction is beneficial to U.S. demographic, economic, strategic and actuarial health and security.

          (M) Commitment to downsizing government and the enormous burden upon American families of the USA‟s $14.3 trillion public debt, its $77 trillion in unfunded liabilities, its $1.5 trillion federal deficit, and its $3.5 trillion federal budget.

          (O) Fierce defense of the First Amendment‟s rights of Religious Liberty and Freedom of Speech, especially against the intolerance of any who would undermine law-abiding American citizens and institutions of faith and conscience for their adherence to, and defense of, faithful heterosexual monogamy.

III

The Vow of Civic, Religious, Lay, Business, and Social Leaders:

We the undersigned do hereby solemnly vow* that no U.S. Presidential primary candidate – nor any primary candidate for the U. S. House, Senate, Governor, state or municipal office –will, in his or her public capacity, benefit from any substantial form of aid, support, endorsement, contribution, independent expenditure, or affirmation from any of us without first affirming this Marriage Vow. Furthermore, to uphold and advance the natural Institution of Marriage, we ourselves also hereby vow* our own fidelity to this Declaration and especially, to our spouses.

So help us God.

* NOTE: Or, “solemnly attest”. Each signatory signs only in his or her individual capacity as an American citizen and current or potential leader; affiliations herein are for identification purposes only and do not necessarily imply formal embrace of this vow or the sentiments herein by any institution or organization.

Signatories:
Name Candidacy or Title/Affiliation Date
Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum.

***Note that the following statement was still in the document when Bachmann and Santorum signed it.  It was later removed:

“Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA’s first African-American President,”

END NOTES AND SOURCES:
1 The Marriage Vow is a work product of The FAMiLY Leader (www.thefamilyleader.com), a public advocacy organization affiliated with the Iowa Family Policy Center, and collaborating supporters across the U.S. political and ideological spectrum, who recognize that enduring, healthy marriages are necessary to healthy children and a healthy American society. Sociological data squares with tradition to argue that self-centered adult egos and agendas in American families must be subordinated to the long-term interests of America‟s children.
2 Genesis 2:18-25; Mark 10:2-9, Ephesians 5:22-33; Sherif Girgis, Robert P.George and Ryan T. Anderson, “What is Marriage?,” Harvard Journal of Public Policy, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 245-287, Winter 2010 (available at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1722155); Jay Budziszewski, What We Can’t Not Know: A Guide, Spence Publishing, 2011, pp. 38-39; The Declaration of Independence.
3 Gretchen Livingston and D‟Vera Cohn, “The New Demography of American Motherhood,” Pew Research Center, (Revised August 19, 2010) May 6, 2010; Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, “Births: Preliminary Data for 2008,” April 6, 2010, Table 1 at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_16.pdf.
4 Robert Rector, “Married Fathers: America‟s Best Weapon Against Child Poverty,” Heritage Foundation WebMemo No. 2934, June 6, 2010, at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/06/Married-Fathers-Americas-Greatest-Weapon-Against-Child-Poverty; Cynthia C. Harper and Sara S. McLanahan, “Father Absence and Youth Incarceration,” Journal of Research on Adolescence, Vol. 14, No. 3 (2004), pp.369-397. Data from National Longitudinal Study of Youth, the 1979 cohort (NYLS79).
5 William J. Doherty and Leah Ward Sears, “Second Chances: A Proposal to Reduce Unnecessary Divorce,” Institute for American Values, to be published in 2011.
6 Scafidi, Benjamin, The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Childbearing (New York; Institute for American Values, 2008, ISBN: 1-931764-14-X), Appendix A, pp. 22-30.
7 No peer-reviewed empirical science or rational demonstration has ever definitively proven, nor even has shown an overwhelming probability, that homosexual preference or behavior is irresistible as a function of genetic determinism or other forms of fatalism. Furthermore, no peer-reviewed empirical science or rational, scholarly demonstration has ever definitively proven, nor even has shown an overwhelming probability:
(1) That society‟s interest in the physical, psychological and sociological health of infants, children, young people and other minors is not best upheld through the enduring institution of legal marriage, especially faithful monogamy, as between only one man and one woman;
(2) That society‟s interest in a healthy, vibrant, and growing indigenous population and workforce to drive economic growth and actuarially support public and private pension, benefit and entitlement systems is in any way advanced by undermining the institution of faithful, lawful marriage as between only one man and one woman;
(3) That the longstanding religious liberties of American parents, children, religious and civic leaders who adhere to Jewish and Christian tradition, teaching and sacred texts regarding faithful heterosexual monogamy are not jeopardized by recent or pending redefinitions of legal marriage to include same-sex unions, polygamy and other kinds of intimate relations;
(4) That practices such as adultery, bisexuality, homosexuality, anal intercourse, group sex, promiscuity, serial marriage, polygamy, polyandry and extramarital sex, individually or collectively, lead to general improvements in:
a. Human mortality; See for example, Robert S. Hogg et al, “Modeling the Impact of HIV Disease on Mortality in Gay and Bisexual Men,” International Journal of Epidemiology, 1997, Vol. 26, no. 3. From the abstract: “In a major Canadian centre, life expectancy at age 20 years for gay and bisexual men is 8 to 20 years less than for all men. If the same pattern of mortality were to continue, we estimate that nearly half of gay and bisexual men currently aged 20 years will not reach their 65th birthday. Under even the most liberal assumptions, gay and bisexual men in this urban centre are now experiencing a life expectancy similar to that experienced by all men in Canada in the year 1871.”
b. Public health,
c. Public health costs (Medicaid, Medicare, etc.)
d. General health care price inflation (medical, hospital, insurance, etc).
e. Incidence of single parent households and related social costs,
f. Incidence of epidemics and pandemics,
g. Incidence of:
i. HIV/ AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus);
ii. Other retroviruses like XMRV, HTLV, etc. (affecting venereal fluids, semen, breast milk, blood);
iii. Septic bacterial infections (such as from E Coli);
iv. Hepatitis (forms of which are transmitted via fecal-oral, venereal contact);
v. Chancroid (Haemophilus ducreyi);
vi. Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis);
vii. Granuloma inguinale or (Klebsiella granulomatis);
viii. Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae);
ix. Syphilis (Treponema pallidum);
x. Herpes simplex
xi. Genital warts
xii. HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)
xiii. Phthirius pubis (pubic lice)
xiv. Sarcoptes scabiei (scabies)
xv. Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis)
xvi. Anal incontinence
xvii. Abortion
xviii. Abortion-related complications
8As applicable if married now, wed in the future, or whenever interacting with another‟s spouse, a person of the opposite sex or of personal attraction. No signer herein claims to be without past wrongdoing, including that of adultery. Yet going forward, each hereby vows fidelity to his or her marital vows, to his or her spouse, to all strictures and commandments against adultery, and to resist the lure of pornography destructive to marital intimacy.
9 Personal infidelity often destroys two marriages and two families.
10 It is no secret that a handful of state and federal judges, some of whom have personally rejected heterosexuality and faithful monogamy, have also abandoned bona fide constitutional interpretation in accord with the discernible intent of the framers. In November, 2010, Iowa voters overwhelmingly rejected three such justices from the state Supreme Court in retention elections. Yet, certain federal jurists with lifetime appointments stand poised, even now, to “discover” a right of so-called same-sex marriage or polygamous marriage in the U.S. Constitution.
11 Justice Scalia‟s dissent in Lawrence v. Texas (http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/02-102.ZD.html) holds that laws against such things as bigamy/polygamy, prostitution, bestiality, adult incest — customs historically rejected within the United States — may become Constitutionally-inevitable under U.S. Supreme Court logic which could be used to invalidate the Defense of Marriage Act and laws, in the overwhelming majority of states, against so-called same-sex marriage and near-equivalents. This is particularly problematic with regard to polygamy, a demographic and strategic means for the advancement of Sharia Islamist misogyny, for attacks upon the rights of women, for the violent persecution of homosexuals, for the undermining of basic human rights, and for general religious and civil intolerance for Jewish, Christian and other non-Islamic faiths under Sharia law.
12 U.S. Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey, 2006-2008; W. Bradford Wilcox, William J. Doherty, Helen Fisher, William A. Galston, Norval D. Glenn, John Gottman, Robert Lerman, Annette Mahoney, Barbara Markey, Howard J. Markman, Steven Nock, David Popenoe, Gloria G. Rodriguez, Scott M. Stanley, Linda J. Waite, Judith Wallerstein, “Why Marriage Matters: Twenty-Six Conclusions from the Social Sciences,” Institute for American Values, 2005 (http://americanvalues.org/pdfs/why_marriage_matters2.pdf); “Parental Involvement and Children‟s Well-Being,” Heritage Foundation, FamilyFacts.org, at http://familyfacts.org/briefs/40/parental-involvement-and-childrens-well-being (April 15, 2011).
13 Chairman Dave Camp, “Democrats‟ Ticking Time Bomb, Part III (Middle-Class Families),” The Tax Tracker, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, July 28, 2010; Robert Rector, “The New Federal Wedding Tax: How Obamacare Would Dramatically Penalize Marriage,” Heritage Foundation WebMemo No.2767, January 20, 2010, at http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/01/the-new-federal-wedding-tax-how-obamacare-would-dramatically-penalize-marriage; Nick Kasprak, “The Potential Impact of Expiring Tax Cuts on Low-Income Taxpayers,” Tax Foundation Fiscal Fact No. 250, October 7, 2010, at http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/26766.html (April 28, 2011); Parental Divorce Reduction Act, SB 556, New Mexico Senate, 50th Legislature, 1st Session, 2011, § 2, at http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/11%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0556.pdf (April 26, 2011); Benjamin Scafidi, Ibid.; William J. Doherty and Leah Ward Sears, Ibid.
14 Although signed by President Clinton in 1996, the U.S. Justice Department has abandoned good faith legal defense of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the repeal of which President Obama favors so states may be forced by courts to recognize so-called same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Therefore, we hereby applaud the commitment of Speaker John Boehner and his House Leadership to bring about appropriate legal intervention by the U.S. House of Representatives, in defense of both DOMA and the institution of the Congress itself; a binding act of the Legislative Branch of the federal government has been abandoned for ideological reasons by the Executive Branch.
15 For the event that activist Federal courts or the U.S. Supreme Court may ultimately strike down DOMA or state laws limiting legal marriage to one man and one woman, the signatories hereby vow to support a Marriage Amendment which would constitutionally define and limit legal marriage or marriage equivalents in the U.S. to one man and one woman, thereby especially protecting American women and children from Sharia polygamy, same-sex unions, and other debasements of Judeo-Christian hetero-monogamy. To date, the ONLY states whose elected lawmakers and governors have enacted same-sex marriage on behalf of their constituents are: Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York. In all 31 states in which marriage has been put to a vote of the People, same-sex marriage has been defeated and natural marriage has been upheld (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin).
16 Human trafficking, child pornography and prostitution, pimping, sexual slavery and forced abortion are inherently coercive of vulnerable females. Infanticide and abortion are inherently coercive of the babies who are killed; as a matter of human rights, we reject any form of intrauterine or extrauterine child killing which is partial-birth; live-birth; post-viability; third trimester; involving fetal pain; taxpayer-subsidized; based on gender or disability or racial discrimination against the baby; without fully-informed consent; without disclosure of pregnancy care and adoption placement options; without disclosure of abortion‟s eugenic and racist history; involving a minor without parental knowledge or consent; in disregard of conscience objections of health care professionals and institutions; involving cloning or experimentation on non-consenting human subjects; involving dangerous abortifacient drugs; or for alleged necessities other than to save the life of the mother.
17 See, e.g., Center for Military Readiness: www.cmrlink.org/HMilitary.asp, www.cmrlink.org/WomenInCombat.asp
18 We do not oppose peaceful Muslims, only the intolerant system of Sharia Islam: Princeton‟s Bernard Lewis, dean of Western scholars of Islam, says, ” „My own feeling is that the greatest defect of Islam and the main reason they fell behind the West is the treatment of women,‟ he says. He makes the powerful point that repressive homes pave the way for repressive governments. „Think of a child that grows up in a Muslim household where the mother has no rights, where she is downtrodden and subservient. That’s preparation for a life of despotism and subservience. It prepares the way for an authoritarian society,‟ ” (The Wall Street Journal, April 2, 2011 at A13). Sharia Islamist aims are abusive of women, young girls and Judeo-Christian notions of gender equality, civil tolerance and liberty. Over the long run, Sharia polygamy, multi-partner childbearing, demographic jihad and the persecution of Jews, Christians, blacks, artists, feminists, gays, freethinkers and other non-conformists poses a threat to Western human rights in general, and to American liberty in particular.
19 See, e.g., Julian Lincoln Simon, The Ultimate Resource and The Ultimate Resource 2, Princeton University Press, 1981 and 1996, respectively; Mark Steyn, America Alone, Regnery Publishing, 2006; Ben J. Wattenberg, Fewer: How the New Demography of Depopulation Will Shape Our Future, Ivan R.Dee, 2004;“Demographic Winter: The Decline of the Human Family,” 2008, SRB Documentary, LLC, 585 West 500 South #110, Bountiful, UT 84010; It is beyond debate that 50 million American abortions since Roe v. Wade have thrown actuarial assumptions about Social Security, Medicare and public and private pensions into chaos.
20 United States Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (December 2010). “The debt to the penny and who holds it”. TreasuryDirect. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
21 Amendment 1: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The FAMiLY LEADER
1100 N. Hickory Blvd., Suite 107, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
TheFamilyLeader.com · 877-866-4372

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Total casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 6317

Deaths by Conflict
Operation Enduring Freedom :1847
Operation Iraqi Freedom :4403
Operation New Dawn :67
(the change in the OIF & ND are based on the date the occupation actually ended per the DOD.)
20 year old Army Pfc. Justin M. Whitmire

That Crazy Eyed Witch Quits!

Posted by: Ted in Ted's Soapbox 2.5 No Comments »

Her 15 minutes of fame and glory are over.  Michele Bachmann, the Minnesota Congressperson who made Sarah Palin look smart has quit  the Republican Presidential race after coming in 6th in Iowa.

Michele Bachmann, the wizard of misquotes and stupid statements, who actually tried blame the Swine Flue on Democrats, feels that all cultures are not the same and feels that homosexual marriage is the biggest thing to impact Minnesota and the nation in over 30 years.  The ding bat who felt that Carbon Dioxide isn’t a dangerous gas, believer of so many stupid things there is no way to post them all. 

Now that she is gone, hopefully she will shut the hell up and just go away.  I pray that no one decides to make her a Vice President.

 

Hopefully now we can get rid of Rick Perry and super Christian idiot Rick Santorum we will be a lot safer.

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Total casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 6317

Deaths by Conflict
Operation Enduring Freedom :1847
Operation Iraqi Freedom :4403
Operation New Dawn :67
(the change in the OIF & ND are based on the date the occupation actually ended per the DOD.)

24 year old Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Chad R. Regelin