I received this from my Congressmen today...still waiting to hear from my Senators...
as a side note, i must say that i am thrilled that after living in DC for 20 years and now, having relocated to North Carolina, I now have representation in Congress...
to actually have a say or rather an ear who can listen to the matters that concern me, is quite a thrill...something many if not most Americans take for granted...
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January 19, 2012
[my address deleted]
Dear Paranoid Android:
Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Like you, I am opposed to this legislation in its current form.
As you know, the Stop Online Piracy Act aims to expand the ability of federal law enforcement to curb the distribution of illegal online content by shutting down websites and services that use counterfeited or pirated content created by U.S. firms. The bill also includes a provision that could hold third parties, such as payment-processing sites and Internet search engines, responsible for piracy and counterfeiting that occurs on other sites. Companion legislation, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act (PROTECT-IP Act, or S. 968), is currently under consideration in the Senate.
I share your concerns about the impact SOPA could have on many websites and online businesses, which, under the bill as currently written, could face lawsuits o r have their sites shut down by the government for unknowingly hosting copyrighted content. I recognize that online piracy and counterfeiting is a real problem that should be addressed, but I believe we can address this problem without compromising the open and non-discriminatory nature of the Internet. Since its inception, the Internet has allowed anyone with an Internet connection to access or provide information, goods, or services on a relatively equal footing. This open design has been largely responsible for the revolutionary impact that the Internet has had on global commerce, innovation, information-sharing, and so many other aspects of our daily lives.
H.R. 3261 has been referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet for consideration. In recent weeks, thanks to the effective advocacy of many online activists and organizations, opposition to the bill has grown exponentially as Americans have learned more about the far-reaching implications that SOPA could have. I announced my opposition to the proposed bill several months ago on my Twitter account (which you may follow @RepDavidEPrice). Most recently, in response to the website "blackout" campaign led by several major online entities on January 18, I released a statement reiterating my opposition, which you may read on my website at
http://go.usa.gov/RLL.
Again, thank you for contacting me. As Congress debates Internet and intellectual property legislation in the future, I hope you will continue to stay in touch regarding your perspective.
Sincerely,
DAVID PRICE
Member of Congress