US draft law would toughen penalties against counterfeiting, especially drugs

Violations of intellectual property rights not only deprive legitimate businesses of millions of dollars and undercut innovation but often pose serious threat to human safety and health, according to US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

In response to this problem, the US Justice Department on May 14 sent to Congress the Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2007. The draft legislation calls for stronger penalties for repeat offenders and would also increase the maximum penalty for counterfeiting offenses if the defendant "knowingly and recklessly causes serious bodily injury or death," said AG Gonzales.

To be considered by Congress, a draft bill sent by the administration must be sponsored by one or more members of Congress. To become a law, identical versions of a bill must be passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the President.