SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON PROTECT IP ACT

U.S. Senator Susan Collins today released this statement on the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property, or PIPA, Act.

“I share the legitimate concerns that the anti-piracy legislation, as currently drafted, needs significant revision. Rather than the Senate moving too quickly on the PROTECT IP Act, we should instead proceed cautiously, in an open and fair amendment process, to ensure that the legislation is narrowly tailored to target criminals while also preserving the integrity of the Internet.

“Clearly, we must strike a balance between Internet freedom and First Amendment concerns, while still protecting American jobs and intellectual property by preventing criminals from operating foreign-based websites engaged in illegal infringing activities. In its current form, the bill does not strike the right balance, and I believe the Senate will ultimately not pass the bill without significantly revising it.”

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