8/3/2019 2011.01.24 - Response From Senator Levin Regarding SOPA

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CARL LEVINMICHIGAN

COMMITTEES:ARMED SERVICE

GOVERNMENTAL AFSMALL BUSINESINTELLIGENCE

January 24,2012Honorable Derek DobiesCity CouncilCity of Jackson918 1st StreetJackson, MI 49203Dear Mr. Dobies:

Thank you for contacting me about the Preventing Real Online Threats to EconomicCreativity and Theft of Intellectual Property (PROTECT IP) Act of 2011 (S.968). I appreciateyou sharing your thoughts with me.Introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the PROTECT IP Act aims to safeguard

intellectual property on the Internet from foreign websites dedicated to illegal infringingactivities. Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are legal rights granted by governments toencourage and reward innovation. These rights ensure that inventors reap the benefits of theirwork. Through IPRs, governments grant a temporary, legal monopoly to innovators by givingthem the right to control the use of their creations by others. IPRs also allow inventors to tradeor license their work to others in return for fees and/or royalty payments.

The PROTECT IP Act would authorize the Attorney General or the owner of an IPRharmed by an Internet site dedicated to infringement activities (lSDIA) to take a number of stepsto act against the operator or owner of an ISDIA site. U.S. industries that rely on the protectionof IPRs contribute significantly to U.S. economic growth, employment, and international trade.Counterfeiting and online piracy in other countries may result in revenue losses in the billions ofdollars for American firms, as well as the loss of American jobs. Additionally, health and publicsafety advocates are troubled by the potential consequences of counterfeit pharmaceutical drugsand other products. -- - - -

Concerns have been raised that the PROTECT IP Act would stifle innovation andopenness on the Internet and would restrict Americans' free speech. Opponents of the bill alsohave claimed that it would place an unfair and unworkable regulatory burden on Internetcompanies and would weaken Internet security.

I am concerned about the current version of the bill. I have been meeting with people onall sides of the issue and hearing from many constituents. After scheduling a vote on to thePROTECT IP Act, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced on January 20th thatSenate consideration of the bill would be postponed, citing legitimate concerns that had beenraised about the bill. I think this was the right course of action given the large number of issuesthat have been raised. Senator Reid encouraged Senator Leahy to work with the various

8/3/2019 2011.01.24 - Response From Senator Levin Regarding SOPA

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stakeholders to resolve their concerns with the PROTECT IP Act. I will review the revisedversion carefully whenit is available.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,ukCarl LevinCL:js