Here’s a link to the white paper (PDF) which outlines their desires:

ADMINISTRATION’S WHITE PAPER ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
March 2011
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ip_white_paper.pdf

The image below is from page 12.

Arstechnica article about it:
Obama “IP czar” wants felony charges for illegal Web streaming
March 15, 2011
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/03/obama-ip-czar-wants-felony-charges-for-illegal-web-streaming/

I have not found anything to indicate that anything has passed which would make it a felony, but I could be wrong.

I do recall the takedown of some guy’s sites which linked to complete episodes of ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Family Guy.’

However, that was in Canada and I don’t know if it was considered the equivalent of a felony there — statutory and punitive damages were settled for $10.5 million (CAD). I’m sure they will get their money, am I right? :-)

Simpsons Pirate Ordered to Pay Fox $10.5 Million in Damages
January 2, 2014
http://torrentfreak.com/simpsons-pirate-ordered-to-pay-fox-10-5-million-in-damages-140102/

I can’t recall anything in the U.S. which would be similar except for Jammie Thomas-Rasset being ordered to pay $222,000 for sharing 24 songs and the case of Joel Tenenbaum, who also was ordered to pay $675,000. I am certain these were civil lawsuits and not criminal.

Jammie Thomas-Rasset Loses Supreme Court Appeal, Must Pay $222,000 For Illegal Downloads
March 18, 2013
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/18/jammie-thomas-rasset-supreme-court-illegal-downloading_n_2902093.html

If anyone knows if there has been a change in any copyright law making simple file sharing a felony, I would like to hear about it — as would everyone else, I suspect.

Yeah, I remember that. As soon as you entered Texas you would see the roadsigns with the slogan immediately.

Didn’t someone get arrested at the Alamo some time ago for pissing on it?

However — I was quick to jump on it because they are trying to scare people into believing it is a felony to engage in file sharing. That’s what a lot of people “hear” when words like “Federal law” are thrown at them (as in their voicemail).

There was a Bill introduced in 2003/2004 which would have made it a felony.

It was the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2004.
The bill was introduced in a previous session of Congress and was passed by the House on September 28, 2004 but was never passed by the Senate.

I believe it would have allowed for huge fines and a possibility of receiving up to 6 years in prison if found guilty.

Right now, I am not aware of the possibility of file sharing being treated as a felony unless there is criminal infringement by way of receiving profit in the execution of the infringement..

When I think about copyright law — it’s as you said — my brain sort of shuts down. Not unusual for me. ;-)

Copyright lawsuits get coverage and people hear the $150K possible damages and the brain sort of shuts down. This is how trolls are successful, and the reason there is a community committed to explaining the law & exposing the lies they tell targets.