Apparently all the leg humping the RIAA did at the Democratic and Republican conventions paid off, as the U.S. Senate has approved legislation that creates a cabinet-level copyright enforcer and allows the government to personally sue copyright violators.

This is obviously big news, as people downloading Tokio Hotel illegally could always count on long litigation time thanks to the RIAA having to jump through hoops to sue people. Now, the government can step in and press charges against people illegally downloading directly. Is that bootleg of their album worth federal jail time?

The bill passed 14-4 in the Judiciary Committee, and it also makes for tougher penalties for copyright infringement. It’s a bold move to create what is essentially a copyright czar, and puts the U.S. at the forefront of chasing illegal downloaders.

There’s one solace for illegal downloaders though—the U.S. senate created the drug czar position in 1988, and you can still buy drugs as freely as before. You'll probably still be able to download Heroes illegally in 2028. [FMQB]