House passes song swapper bill

Reuters: Users of Internet "peer to peer" networks, already dodging lawsuits from the recording industry, could face up to three years in prison under a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday.

The Senate approved a similar bill in June, but differences must be reconciled before President Bush signs it into law. This is different than the Induce Act -- which would make it easier to sue peer-to-peer networks -- but it's no less wrongheaded to steer FBI agents away from terrorist suspects and instead have them investigate intellectual-property crimes.