infoJustice

Senator Leahy introduced the PROTECT-IP Act (S. 968) on May 12, designed to combat websites “dedicated to infringing activities.”  The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Schumer, Feinstein, Whitehouse, Graham, Kohl Coons, and Blumenthal.  According to the official summary, the legislation would allow the Justice Department obtain court orders against these sites and require third parties to “either prevent access to the internet site (in the case of an internet service provider or search engine), or cease doing business with the internet site (in the case of a payment processor or advertising network).”  Unlike last year’s Combating Online Infringements and Counterfeits Act, private IP owners can bring similar actions against payment processors and advertisers.  The PROTECT-IP Act also contains a safe harbor for firms that take voluntary actions against sites selling illegitimate pharmaceuticals online.

Documents from Sen. Leahy’s Office

• Text of the bill.
• Press Release. “Leahy, Hatch, Grassley Unveil Targeted Bill To Counter Online Infringement.” May 12, 2011

Reactions to the Legislation

• Abigail Phillips, Electronc Frontier Foundation. “The ‘PROTECT IP’ Act: COICA Redux.”
• Sherwin Siy, Public Knowledge. “COICA v. 2.0: the PROTECT IP Act.”
• Motion Picture Association of America, the Independent Film & Television Alliance, and the National Association of Theater Owners. “Broad Creative Industry Coalition Praises Senate Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Fight Online Theft.”
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  U.S. Chamber’s Donohue Commends Senate Introduction of Legislation to Protect Jobs and Cut Off Rogue Sites.

News Stories and Blogs

• William New for IP Watch. Sounding The Alarm: Return Of US Legislation Against Global “Rogue” Websites.
• David Kravets for wired.com (republished in Ars Technica). “Senate bill gives feds power to order piracy site blacklisting.”
• Mike Masnick for Tech Dirt. Son Of COICA: PROTECT IP Act Will Allow For Broad Censorship Powers, Even Granted To Copyright Holders.
• Wendy Seltzer. Debugging Legislation: PROTECT IP.