PROTECT IP Act

PROTECT IP Act. The PROTECT IP Act is a proposed United States law that aims to combat online piracy and intellectual property infringement, with the support of Hollywood, Motion Picture Association of America, and Recording Industry Association of America. The bill was introduced by Patrick Leahy, Orrin Hatch, and Chuck Grassley, and is related to the COICA and SOPA bills. The PROTECT IP Act has been compared to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and has sparked debates involving Google, Facebook, and Twitter.

Introduction

The PROTECT IP Act is designed to target rogue websites that engage in copyright infringement and counterfeiting, with the goal of protecting intellectual property rights of copyright holders such as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. The bill has been endorsed by International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, MPAA, and RIAA, and has been opposed by Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union, and Center for Democracy and Technology. The PROTECT IP Act has been compared to the Australian Government's Internet censorship policies and the French Government's HADOPI law. The bill has also been discussed in relation to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.

Background

The PROTECT IP Act is part of a broader effort to combat online piracy and intellectual property infringement, which has been a major concern for content creators such as Disney, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros.. The bill is related to the Digital Economy Act 2010 in the United Kingdom and the Copyright Modernization Act in Canada. The PROTECT IP Act has been supported by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and has been opposed by Public Knowledge, Free Press, and Computer and Communications Industry Association. The bill has also been discussed in relation to the World Intellectual Property Organization and the World Trade Organization.

Provisions

The PROTECT IP Act would allow the U.S. Department of Justice to seek court orders against rogue websites that engage in copyright infringement and counterfeiting, with the support of FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill would also allow copyright holders to seek court orders against advertising networks and payment processors that do business with rogue websites, such as Google AdSense and PayPal. The PROTECT IP Act has been compared to the Italian Government's AGCOM regulations and the Spanish Government's Ley Sinde law. The bill has also been discussed in relation to the European Union's Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Opposition

The PROTECT IP Act has been opposed by Google, Facebook, and Twitter, as well as by Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union, and Center for Democracy and Technology. The bill has been criticized for its potential impact on free speech and innovation, with opponents arguing that it could lead to censorship and stifling of online creativity, as seen in the cases of WikiLeaks and The Pirate Bay. The PROTECT IP Act has also been opposed by Mozilla Corporation, Etsy, and Reddit, and has been discussed in relation to the Arab Spring and the Occupy Wall Street movement. The bill has been compared to the Chinese Government's Great Firewall and the Iranian Government's Internet censorship policies.

Legislative history

The PROTECT IP Act was introduced in the United States Senate by Patrick Leahy, Orrin Hatch, and Chuck Grassley, and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill has been supported by Lamar Smith and John Conyers, and has been opposed by Ron Wyden and Darrell Issa. The PROTECT IP Act has been discussed in relation to the Stop Online Piracy Act and the OPEN Act, and has been compared to the Canadian Government's Bill C-11 and the Australian Government's Copyright Amendment Act 2006. The bill has also been discussed in relation to the World Intellectual Property Day and the International Intellectual Property Alliance.

Impact

The PROTECT IP Act could have a significant impact on the online economy and the digital media industry, with potential effects on e-commerce and online advertising, as seen in the cases of Amazon.com and eBay. The bill could also have implications for Internet governance and cybersecurity, with potential effects on domain name system and Internet Protocol, as discussed by ICANN and IETF. The PROTECT IP Act has been compared to the European Union's Digital Agenda for Europe and the U.S. Government's National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace. The bill has also been discussed in relation to the SXSW conference and the CES trade show. Category:United States proposed federal legislation