Thank you for sharing your thoughts about S.3804, the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act.

The stated goal of this bipartisan legislation is to help stop the increasing problem of online piracy and counterfeiting. The legislation would assist the Department of Justice in tracking and shutting down websites that provide unauthorized downloads, streaming, or direct sale of copyrighted material.

Illegal file sharing and unauthorized copying of digital material prevents musicians, producers, filmmakers, software designers, and many others from reaping the fruits of their labor. Such activity has the potential to stifle artistic creativity and compromise electronic innovation. Ultimately, intellectual property theft costs our economy billions of dollars and can result in hundreds of thousands of lost jobs.

However, I have heard from individuals who have concerns about the scope of this legislation, as well as its First Amendment implications. In particular, some are troubled by aspects of the bill that would allow the Justice Department to make permanently inaccessible domain names that are found to traffic infringing material. I take these concerns seriously.

As the Senate considers S.3804, I will certainly keep your views in mind. Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
United States Senator

Belly35;501664 wrote:Sherrod Brown
United States Senator Ass-hole

I Wear Pants;501669 wrote:I think we actually agree on this one Belly.

I Wear Pants;501687 wrote:This is true.

But he's never sent me an email response saying that file sharing results in "hundreds of thousands of lost jobs.". Are you fucking kidding me?

However, I have heard from individuals who have concerns about the scope of this legislation, as well as its First Amendment implications. In particular, some are troubled by aspects of the bill that would allow the Justice Department to make permanently inaccessible domain names that are found to traffic infringing material. I take these concerns seriously.

As the Senate considers S.3804, I will certainly keep your views in mind. Thank you again for writing.

I Wear Pants;502333 wrote:Where are the citizens on the ballot?

I Wear Pants;501621 wrote:I'm not encouraged by this response to my email.

Thank you for sending me your comments. Listening to the views of the people I represent in the U.S. Senate is a critical part of my job. I do my best to provide every Ohioan with a prompt response. If you have an urgent matter, please feel free to call any of my offices in Ohio or Washington, DC.

If you have not done so already, please visit my Senate website (http://brown.senate.gov) for comprehensive information about my work in the Senate, as well as constituent services that my office provides and how to get connected with federal programs.

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This morning's Politico brought with it great news for those who care about free speech and fair use online:

A markup on SJC Chairman Leahy’s IP infringement bill was postponed late Wednesday, as staffers anticipated the chamber would finish legislative work and adjourn for recess before the hearing could commence. The change in plans should delight some of the bill’s critics, at least, who expressed concern that the legislation was moving forward quickly.

Translation: The Senate Judiciary Committee won't be considering the dangerously flawed "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act" (COICA) bill until after the midterm elections, at least.

This is a real victory! The entertainment industry and their allies in Congress had hoped this bill would be quickly approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee with no debate before the Senators went home for the October recess.

Massive thanks to all of you who used our Action Center to write to your Senators to oppose this bill. Thanks as well to the 87 Internet scientists and engineers whose open letter to Congress played a key role in today's success, and to all the other voices that helped sound the alarm.

Make no mistake, though: this bill will be back soon enough, and Congress will again need to hear from concerned citizens like you. So stay tuned to EFF.org for any new developments.