RIAA-backed warrantless search bill advances in California & and passes
18 05 2011Jacqui Cheng – May 18 2011
If you run a CD or DVD duplication company and you’re based in California, you may soon be subject to warrantless searches in order to “fight piracy.” California Senate Bill 550, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), has slowly begun making its way through the state legislature as a way to cut down on counterfeit discs, but critics worry that it may open the door to Fourth Amendment violations.
Currently, commercial disc manufacturers in California must stamp unique identifiers onto their products as a way to separate commercial products from counterfeits. Discs without these identifiers are considered illegal, and those who mass produce knockoff discs for the black market can already be pursued as criminals under existing law.
Apparently the measure passed and was put into law, Jan. 1, 2012. I would like a stronger source than what I’ve so far been able to find, but for now:
“A new anti-piracy legislation ( California SB 550) that was recently signed by California Governor Jerry Brown will help reduce music and movie piracy by allowing inspections and verification to ensure that large-scale disc replicating plants are complying with California anti-piracy laws. That law took effect January 1, 2012.”
The content in this post was found at http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/05/riaa-backed-warrantless-search-bill-advances-in-california/ and http://www.ontoplist.com/post/31781eab11d1420332a14238ac1f13d3/ was not authored by the moderators of freeforafee.com. Clicking the title link will take you to the source of the post.
