come into force / bring sth into force

違法ダウンロードに刑事罰が科されるようになりました。
Law making it illegal to download pirated music, videos goes into effect

Controversial laws punishing Internet users who download pirated files with fines or jail terms came into force in Japan on Monday.

Under the new legislation, they could face up to two years in prison or a maximum of two million yen in fines.

The revision follows a lobbying campaign by Japan’s music industry for measures to curb piracy, but critics and local media have expressed concern.

They say the change in the law allows authorities to target any Internet user and could be open to abuse.

However, advocates say charges can be only be filed against alleged violators if copyright holders lodge a criminal complaint.

Before the revision, the law punished only those who uploaded unauthorised music and videos, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million yen.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/law-making-it-illegal-to-download-music-videos-goes-into-effect

forceには「力」から派生して、「≪正式≫（法律などの）効力、施行」(『ジーニアス英和辞典　第４版』大修館)という意味もあります。
LDOCEでは、come into force/ bring sth into forceの形で"if a new law, rule, change etc comes or is brought into force, it starts to exist"とあり、「法律が効力を発し始める」という意味になります。そういう場合には口をついて出るようにしたい表現です。(Minnesota)