RIAA starts buying laws

This is the courtesy of those who can buy laws: Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles has passed a city ordinance that authorizes civil fines for copyright infringement. If a property in LA is used for copyright piracy (since the RIAA/MPAA bought this legislation, they didn't feel any need to include patent piracy as well), the property can be padlocked for a year and a $1,000 fine slapped for each pirated work produced. See blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/05/los-angeles-say.html

The Board of Supervisors did not agree to add an extra penalty for convicted pirates - having to read one law review article or court decision involving the idea/expression dichotomy for each act of piracy - city lawyers argued that was cruel and unusual punishment.