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Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 7, 2007
Intellectual Property Enforcement Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action for copyright infringement in lieu of criminal proceedings.
Directs the Attorney General to: (1) create an operational unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist in the investigation and coordination of intellectual property crimes; (2) implement a program to train FBI agents in the investigation and prosecution of such crimes; (3) assign federal prosecutors to Department of Justice (DOJ) offices in Hong Kong and Budapest to coordinate international enforcement of intellectual property laws; and (4) create a task force to implement a plan to investigate and prosecute international organized crime syndicates involved in theft of intellectual property.
Authorizes additional funding through FY2011 to investigate and prosecute criminal activity involving computers.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Amends federal copyright law to: (1) provide that copyright registration requirements apply to civil (not criminal) infringement actions; (2) require courts to issue protective orders to prevent disclosure of seized records relating to copyright infringement; (3) modify forfeiture provisions relating to criminal copyright infringement; and (4) prohibit importing and exporting of infringing copies of copyrighted works.
Amends the federal criminal code to enhance penalties for: (1) trafficking in counterfeit labels or packaging; (2) criminal infringement of copyrights; (3) unauthorized recording of motion pictures; and (4) trafficking in counterfeit goods or services.
Provides for civil forfeiture of property used to facilitate copyright infringement and for restitution for victims of such infringement.
People & committees
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT] · D–VT
Legislative record
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Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S14064-14066)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14064)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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