I wanted a definitive “I will not allow freedom of speech to be taken from the American people or the citizens of Idaho!” but instead I got an email full of political speak. This SOPA and PIPA response from Senator Crapo is not good enough for me. I demand freedom of speech and non-censorship even for things with which I don’t agree. This SOPA and PIPA response from Senator Crapo is political rhetoric. Don’t you think?
January 18, 2012
Dear Jennifer:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act (S. 968). I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.
As you may know, on May 12, 2011, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) introduced S. 968, also referred to as the PROTECT IP Act. This legislation authorizes the Attorney General to take action against either the owner of a nondomestic domain name (NDN) or, in lieu of an individual, against the domain name itself, if the NDN is used within the United States to access an Internet site dedicated to infringing activities (ISDIA) directing business to U.S. residents and harming U.S. intellectual property rights.
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary approved the bill on May 26, 2011, clearing it for further consideration by the full Senate. As the uses of the Internet and other multimedia technologies continue to develop, it is essential Congress works to promote a vibrant, open system that balances the interests of consumers with those of intellectual property holders.
I recognize the need to protect intellectual property rights, however, this legislation has raised some concern that it would come at the expense of the constitutionally protected right of free speech. Please know, if this issue is debated in the 112th Congress, I will work with my colleagues to strike the proper balance between protecting intellectual property rights as well as freedom of speech.
Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me in the future on this or other matters of interest to you. For more information about the issues before the U.S. Senate as well as news releases, photos, and other items of interest, please visit my Senate website, http://crapo.senate.gov.
Mike Crapo
United States Senator
MDC:rj
