Addressing proposed legislation related to growing concern about internet streaming of copyrighted material, US Senator Maria Cantwell provided an update today on the PROTECT IP Act, which was scheduled to go to the Senate floor for a procedural vote on January 23, 2011.
The US Senator from Washington state said, "As we move forward, I'll continue to advocate for a policy that protects both creative content and online freedom of speech."
"Due to the effective grassroots advocacy and public outcry against the bill, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has pulled the proposed legislation from the floor calendar," Cantwell said.Senator Cantwell she said she appreciated Senator Reid's decision to postpone a vote on the PROTECT IP Act.
"This week, the American people clearly spoke and their voices were heard. As we move forward, I'll continue to advocate for a policy that protects both creative content and online freedom of speech," she said.Cantwell is in favor of the OPEN Act, which she believes " ... would build on the existing legal framework for resolving unfair acts in the importation of articles, including those that infringe a valid and enforceable U.S. patent, copyright, or trademark. Through the International Trade Commission, violations of digital trade can be investigated and websites found to be "willfully" and "primarily" infringing on copyright material can be shut down. The ITC will create a transparent and adversarial process where all parties would receive due process and IP rules can be consistently applied. Neither the Stop Online Piracy Act in the House nor the Protect IP Act in the Senate allow for similar due process."
The US Senator from Washington state said, "As we move forward, I'll continue to advocate for a policy that protects both creative content and online freedom of speech."
