Lawmakers trade barbs in hearing on Stop Online Piracy Act

SLIDE SHOW (8)

By Cecilia Kang – In a raucous House debate on Thursday over a bill to stop piracy on the Internet, lawmakers representing the interests of old media and new media drew their swords in passionate attacks and counterattacks over the controversial proposal.

The circus atmosphere of the hearing on the Stop Online Piracy Act, introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), reflected the high-stakes, emotional nature of the debate over how to protect copyrighted movies, songs or books online without trampling on the free speech of individuals and companies.

“Once the government has the taste of power, the temptation to exert ever greater control over the Internet . . . will be even greater,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.). more> http://twurl.nl/nj53go

Related articles

• Controversial anti-piracy bill nears House approval: Why you should care (infoworld.com)
• SOPA, controversial online piracy bill, gains support as lobbying intensifies (theneteconomy.wordpress.com)
• Lawmakers want House Judiciary Committee to slow online piracy bill, Gautham Nagesh, Hill
• Hollywood gains upper hand in SOPA anti-piracy debate (telegraph.co.uk)
• Hollywood-Backed Bill on Web Piracy Debated as Amendments Added – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
• Judiciary Set To Resume Work On Online Piracy Bill (techdailydose.nationaljournal.com)
• Help stop SOPA in the House (dailykos.com)
• Controversial Anti-Piracy Bill (SOPA) Nears House Approval: Why You Should Care (pcworld.com)
• Help Us Stop the “Stop Online Piracy Act”! (notesalongthepath.com)
• Web Piracy Debated (eyeoncitrus.com)

SOPA, controversial online piracy bill, gains support as lobbying intensifies

SLIDE SHOW (15)

By Cecilia Kang – Several lawmakers expressed support Wednesday for a controversial bill aimed at curbing online piracy as lobbying over the issue reached a fever pitch.

In a House Judiciary Committee hearing on a bill proposed by committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), a bipartisan group of lawmakers said new laws are needed to help media outlets, software makers and retailers fight the illegal distribution of movies, songs and software. more> http://twurl.nl/owx0n1

Related articles

• The Circuit: E.U. privacy, online piracy, Facebook; Hayley Tsukayama, Washington Post
• Q&A: EU chief privacy regulator on new Internet rules, Cecilia Kang, Washington Post
• Five things to know about SOPA, Hayley Tsukayama, Washington Post
• SOPA: Destruction of the Internet as we know it [VIDEO 4:20] (museumtechnology.wordpress.com)
• SOPA, The Internet Censorship Bill, Was Lauded By Both Parties In Key House Hearing (jhaines6.wordpress.com)
• SOPA Bill Turns Competing Tech Giants into Unlikely Allies (searchenginejournal.com)
• Internet Community Shut Out of Stop Online Piracy Act Hearing – Again (newsworldwide.wordpress.com)
• SOPA Opera (eset.com)
• MPAA’s SOPA testimony links job loss to piracy (news.cnet.com)
• Tech Giants Say Sopa Piracy Bill is “Draconian” (socyberty.com)