Set to launch in early 2006, In2TV will be helmed by AOL and Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution, and will include shows such as “Welcome Back Kotter,” “Lois and Clark” and “Growing Pains.” All in all, about 30 shows will be offered when the service debuts, and plans call for more than 100 TV series with at least 300 episodes per month during the first year of operation.

The programs will be made available through AOL Video Search, AOL Television and AOL Video On Demand. When appearing on In2TV, the programs will not be available for regular TV airings.

“With In2TV we are enabling Web users to experience and interact with television programming in an entirely new way, and creating a new distribution platform for TV content,” Kevin Conroy, Executive VP, AOL Media Networks said in a statement announcing the service.

“This is an exciting new way to experience these shows, allowing Web users to enjoy what they want, when they want it. We view this collaboration as truly transformational and yet another demonstration of our commitment to making our next-generation AOL.com portal the best destination for video on the Web.”

We Have Ways Of Making You Talk

United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales recently announced a legislative proposal called the “Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2005” that would strengthen penalties for repeat copyright criminals, expand intellectual property protection and add critical investigative tools for both criminal and civil enforcement.

If enacted, the proposed legislation would implement broad forfeiture reforms regarding property as well as income derived from copyright-infringing activities. The legislation would also criminalize intellectual property theft motivated by commercial advantage or private financial gain, and strengthen restitution provisions for victim companies and intellectual property owners.

If copyright bandits are dismissing Gonzales’ proposed legislation as so much government hot air, they might want to think again.

After all, before he became the U.S. attorney general, Gonzales first came to the public’s attention as one of the White House lawyers who signed off on the memo justifying the torture of suspected terrorists. There’s no telling what he has in mind for music and video pirates. Perhaps walking the plank?