Most folks know how I hate the use of the word "piracy" improperly used in relation to copyright infringement. I continue searching the laws for any laws using the term "piracy", and found these amendments of 1982, which some list as "important" amendments in copyright history.

But, in researching it, I found an interesting resource page for those interested in copyright.

WHAT DOES THE PIRACY AND COUNTERFEITING AMENDMENTS ACT OF 1982 DO?

Complete Text Here

"Piracy and Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 1982
Pub. L. No. 97-180, 96 Stat. 91, 93 (amending §506(a), title 17, United States Code and title 18 of the United States Code), enacted May 24, 1982.

Amends the Federal criminal code to revise and increase the penalties for the offense of trafficking in counterfeit labels. Establishes new criminal penalties for the criminal infringement of a copyright involving the reproduction or distribution of phonorecords, motion pictures, or audiovisual works."

The Piracy and Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 1982, amends § 506. Criminal offenses
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap5.html#506

Actually, the Piracy and Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 1982, amends not only 506 as above, but also is codified as:
18 U.S.C. § 2318 (b) Statutory Penalty for Trafficking in Counterfeit Labels

"The maximum penalty for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2318 is imprisonment for five years, a $250,000 fine, or both. See 18 U.S.C. § 2318(a). The defendant is sentenced under U.S. Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual § 2B5.3 (Nov. 1998 & Supp. 2000). For a detailed discussion of the consequences of a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 2318, see infra Chapter VII."
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/ipmanual/04ipma.htm#IV.B.

Basically, the "Piracy and Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 1982" kind of throws counterfeiting and copyright infringement together and gives criminal penalties for engaging in these.

The bizarre thing here is that, even though it uses the term "piracy" in the title, it does not define the term.

So, again, we DO have a legal definition of piracy in USC Title 18, Chapter 81, section 1652, and it has nothing to do with counterfeiting or copyright infringement.

LINKS FOR ADDITIONAL READING
http://fs.huntingdon.edu/jlewis/Syl/499/499JordanOutline.htm

http://www.digitalmedialawreport.com/dmlr_oct2002_toc.htm#_Toc23953777

http://www.supnik.com/ctfrio.htm

~Code

PS..sorry if it was kind of confusing, basically, it amended two sections of code, Title 17 and Title 18 I believe, and though it's easy to find references to this Act, it was hard to find a place where it was specifically defined or the provisions listed.
~Code

Code, you might be happy that to know that that I made a smilar research of Canadian laws, including Copyright Laws and the only definition of piracy is very similar to the one you found ie high seas.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/c-46/40348.html

Thanks JacB...sometimes I would love to confront these people face to face on this issue...
~Code

Yo Ho and a bottle of rum........

i personally dont engage in piracy....the cost of the ship and a crew to maintain it is ridiculous