Legislative action that addresses problems comes slowly, if at all. However, there are currently three proposals in Congress that aim to find solutions for foreign piracy sites, counterfeit and pirated imports, and AI copyright infringement.
The Block BEARD (Bad Electronic Art and Recording Distributors) Act targets large-scale, dedicated foreign online piracy organizations. A bipartisan bill would authorize the CBP to share packaging and shipping information from suspected counterfeiters with IP rights holders, transportation carriers, and e-commerce platforms. The TRAIN act protects copyright holders from infringement, allowing them to subpoena information from companies using their materials to generate AI content.
Bipartisan Anti-Piracy Legislation Advances
The Block BEARD Act, introduced by Senators Tillis, Coons, Blackburn, and Schiff, targets large-scale foreign piracy operations stealing American content. The bipartisan legislation would enable copyright holders to seek federal court orders forcing ISPs to block access to dedicated foreign piracy sites while providing ISP immunity from liability.
Safeguards and Requirements
The bill includes strong protections for free expression and due process. Copyright owners must demonstrate specific harm and prove the criminal nature of targeted sites before courts can order blocking. The legislation mirrors successful approaches used in over 50 democratic countries.
Industry Support and Economic Impact
Industry leaders praise the targeted approach, noting foreign piracy costs the U.S. economy tens of billions annually and hundreds of thousands of jobs. The Recording Industry Association, Motion Picture Association, and Copyright Alliance endorsed the measure, emphasizing it preserves DMCA protections while combating criminal enterprises that expose users to malware and fraud through illegal content distribution.
Bipartisan Anti-Counterfeit Legislation Introduced
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), alongside House Representatives Blake Moore (R-Utah) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), introduced legislation empowering Customs and Border Protection to share suspected counterfeit shipment data with intellectual property holders, e-commerce platforms, and transportation carriers. The measure is also being proposed as an amendment to the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
Enhanced Information Sharing Authority
The bill would authorize CBP to distribute packing and shipping details of suspected counterfeit imports to relevant stakeholders. This cooperation would enable real-time intelligence sharing between government agencies and private sector entities. It is a collaborative approach that aims to disrupt trafficking networks before fake goods reach American consumers.
Broad Industry Support
The legislation has garnered backing from numerous organizations, including the American Apparel & Footwear Association, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, and International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition. CBP Commissioner Randy Scott endorsed enhanced information-sharing capabilities during his confirmation hearing.
Economic and Safety Concerns
Supporters emphasize that counterfeit goods threaten legitimate businesses, eliminate jobs, and pose serious safety risks to consumers through substandard manufacturing. The collaborative framework seeks to protect both economic interests and public welfare by intercepting dangerous knockoff products at entry points.
Blackburn’s TRAIN Act Targets AI Copyright Issues
Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced bipartisan legislation enabling copyright holders to subpoena information about content used in AI training without creator consent. The bill aims to prevent unauthorized use of artists’ names, images, likenesses, and voices in AI-generated content, ensuring proper compensation for creators whose work feeds machine learning systems.
Regional Economic Focus
Blackburn emphasizes protecting Tennessee’s creative community, including musicians, songwriters, speakers, and online educators, while acknowledging AI’s benefits like Chattanooga’s quantum network commercialization. She advocates for regulatory guardrails that balance innovation with creator rights protection.
Legal Opposition and Support
North Carolina’s Envisage Law firm criticizes the legislation, arguing it undermines fair use protections essential for research, education, and innovation, potentially stifling technological development. However, Representative Tim Burchett and gubernatorial candidate Jerri Green support the measure, viewing it as necessary protection for struggling artists.
Legislative Status
The TRAIN Act was introduced during the 2025 legislative session and currently awaits review by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill represents ongoing congressional efforts to establish clearer boundaries between AI development and intellectual property rights in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape.
Digital Music News – Ashley King – July 30, 2025