Copyright bill dies in US Senate as others advance

WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - A bill that would make it easier to sue online file-trading networks like Kazaa appeared on Friday to have died a quiet death, but other copyright bills sought by the entertainment industry continued to advance.

The Senate Judiciary Committee declined late on Thursday to take up a bill that would hold liable anyone who "induces" others to reproduce copyrighted material, a move observers said all but assures it would not become law this year.

The bill, known as the Induce Act, is designed to target online file-trading networks, which courts have so far shielded from entertainment industry lawsuits on the grounds they do not commit copyright infringement but merely make it possible.

The bill drew opposition from public-interest groups and consumer-electronics makers who said makers of digital-media players like Apple Computer Inc.'s (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) iPod could be targeted as well.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Orrin Hatch postponed work on the bill last week and directed both sides to the negotiating table, but talks had stalled by Wednesday.

"We have come a long way, but have not yet reached a successful resolution," said Mitch Bainwol, CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America.

Though the committee declined to take action against file-trading networks, it did approve a measure that would direct the U.S. government to devote more effort to chasing down individual file traders.

Peer-to-peer users who share more than 1,000 songs or other copyrighted works would face up to three years in prison under the bill. U.S. copyright investigators would be able to file civil suits, which require a lower standard of proof than criminal cases, echoing tactics already used by the recording industry.

Those who secretly videotape movies when they are shown in theaters or distribute movies before their release date would face up to 10 years in prison.

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The bill also designates the oak as the national tree.

Many of these provisions have already passed both the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, but a staffer said they must be approved again to iron out differences.

Congress is scheduled to adjourn in the next few days but must come back after the November elections to finish up work on spending bills needed to keep the government running.