The House of Representatives has approved the Pro-IP Act, a controversial legislative proposal that aims to impose stricter penalties for copyright infringement. The bill, which has strong support from the content industry, passed by a vote of 410 to 10.

MPAA chairman Dan Glickman applauded the House for passing the bill and expresses hope that it will move just as quickly through the Senate. "We applaud the members of the House of Representatives for passing the PRO-IP Act, H.R. 4279. It is a comprehensive, bipartisan measure that will strengthen our nation's economy and generate more jobs for American workers by bolstering protections for intellectual property," Glickman said in a statement. "Given the difficult economic times we face, the PRO-IP Act is welcome by both the business and labor communities because it can improve our nation's economic outlook. I hope the Senate will move quickly to pass similar legislation."

The Pro-IP Act would establish a new copyright enforcement division with the Department of Justice and create a new position for a federal copyright enforcement czar. The bill would also enable law enforcement agents to seize property from copyright infringers. An earlier version of the bill would have allowed the content industry to collect damages for each track copied from a CD, but that provision was removed after coming under widespread criticism.

House approval of the Pro-IP Act comes only a week after it received the unanimous blessing of the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the chief sponsor of the bill.

The Senate has yet to take up its version of the bill, which has languished in committee since being introduced last fall. There is also some doubt as to whether President Bush would sign it in its current form, as the administration has expressed reservations about it.