U.S. Federal Legislation: Intellectual Property

Health care employees are more a threat to private medical records than outsiders, according to a number of recent surveys.

A new bill (S.B. 1357) pending in the Idaho Legislature would clarify an existing law that creates an identity theft loophole. Current law prohibits the theft and fraudulent misuse of other people’s information including their names and personal data. However, the law does not make it unlawful for an offender to create a new identity from another person’s information using a fictitious name or even his or her own name. This bill would amend current law to make such actions illegal.