Europe to Vote on Strict Intellectual Property Directive

Internet song-swappers and peddlers of knock-off Prada handbags could have their property seized and bank accounts frozen under a proposed EU law set for a vote before the European Parliament. The EU draft directive is one of the toughest measures yet to protect companies' intellectual property rights in Europe, creating new policing measures to crack down on the growing unauthorized trade of counterfeit products on street corners and online piracy of software, film and music.