White House Opposes Expanded DOJ Copyright Enforcement

The Bush administration is opposing sweeping legislation granting it the ability to prosecute civil cases of copyright infringement.
The legislation, backed by Hollywood, labor unions and manufacturers, sailed through the Senate Judiciary Committee, 14-4, on Sept. 11.
In a letter (.pdf) to Sens. Patrick Leahy and Arlen Specter, who were among the sponsors of the legislation, the Justice Department wrote Tuesday it “strongly” opposes expanding its powers. Doing so, the letter said, could undermine the department’s prosecution of criminal cases and transform it into an office “serving as pro bono lawyers for private copyright holders.”

Full story at Wired.com