USCC to Congress: Protect Jobs, Protect Consumers, PROTECT IP
Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent a reminder to Congress that the world’s largest business organization takes the protection of intellectual property seriously and consequently, will be including next week’s vote on S. 968, the PROTECT IP Act, in its annual How They Voted scorecard.
The letter states “S.968 has been subject to an open and bipartisan Judiciary Committee process, and the Chamber urges the full Senate to fully debate and pass this important measure. Recent announcements by sponsors of the legislation have made clear that important issues of internet operation, security, and freedom will be addressed by a manager’s amendment, which will modify provisions of S. 968 dealing with blocking of rogue sites. The amended legislation is a more narrowly tailored approach designed to target the worst offenders.”
The Chamber only identifies about 7-11 Senate measures as key votes a year, making each vote ever the more important. As publicity stunts overshadow the real issues, the GIPC is confident the pending rogue sites bills are narrowly tailored, effective, and commercially reasonable approaches in combating the scourge of rogue sites.
We all agree—theft of American jobs and innovation is not a business model we can continue to allow. Congress cannot ignore this massive loophole in enforcement of intellectual property online. Foreign e-criminals are bleeding our most creative industries in this critical time of economic recovery. A vote for rogue sites legislation is a vote for American jobs and American consumers.
