Three leading technology industry groups urged
members of the US Congress on Monday to oppose a copyright protection
bill being proposed in the House of Representatives.
The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) would give
US authorities more tools to crack down on websites accused of piracy of
movies, television shows and music and the sale of counterfeit goods.
The legislation has received the backing of
Hollywood and the music industry but has come under fire from digital
rights and free speech groups.
It also came in for criticism on Monday from
the powerful Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the Computer and
Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetCoalition, whose
members include Google and Yahoo!.
In a letter to members of Congress, they said
the legislation “has been framed by its sponsors as a vehicle to
protect US trademarks and copyrights from foreign ‘rogue’ websites.
The bill prevents online thieves from selling
counterfeit goods in the US, expands international protections for
intellectual property, and protects American consumers from dangerous
counterfeit products,” Smith said.
The Obama administration has come in for some
criticism for shutting down dozens of “rogue websites” over the past
year as part of a crackdown known as “Operation in Our Sites.”
US authorities in November, for example, shut
down 82 websites selling mostly Chinese-made counterfeit goods,
including golf clubs, Walt Disney movies, handbags and other items.
members of the US Congress on Monday to oppose a copyright protection
bill being proposed in the House of Representatives.
The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) would give
US authorities more tools to crack down on websites accused of piracy of
movies, television shows and music and the sale of counterfeit goods.
The legislation has received the backing of
Hollywood and the music industry but has come under fire from digital
rights and free speech groups.
It also came in for criticism on Monday from
the powerful Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the Computer and
Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetCoalition, whose
members include Google and Yahoo!.
In a letter to members of Congress, they said
the legislation “has been framed by its sponsors as a vehicle to
protect US trademarks and copyrights from foreign ‘rogue’ websites.
The bill prevents online thieves from selling
counterfeit goods in the US, expands international protections for
intellectual property, and protects American consumers from dangerous
counterfeit products,” Smith said.
The Obama administration has come in for some
criticism for shutting down dozens of “rogue websites” over the past
year as part of a crackdown known as “Operation in Our Sites.”
US authorities in November, for example, shut
down 82 websites selling mostly Chinese-made counterfeit goods,
including golf clubs, Walt Disney movies, handbags and other items.
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