janemaati
01-19-2012, 04:02 PM
Dear Jane:
Thank you for contacting me about H.R. 3261, Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me on this issue.
Innovation and the development of new technology are the driving forces behind the continued growth of the American economy. It's been over ten years since we updated our copyright laws and it's necessary to reform the system to accommodate for a new era of innovation. To retain our place in the world as the preeminent innovators of intellectual property, it's important that we promote an environment in which the exchange of ideas flourishes. We must ensure that a proper balance is struck between creators' rights and the need for public access to intellectual property. H.R. 3261 increases the criminal penalties for online streaming of copyrighted content, create criminal penalties for trafficking in counterfeit drugs, increase penalties for foreign espionage, and require the appointment of dedicated IP personnel in U.S. embassies. SOPA also allows IP rights holders to send a written request to financial transaction providers and Internet advertisers asking them to terminate business relationships with a website (whether domestic or foreign) that is dedicated to theft of U.S. property; if such request is ignored, or if the website files a counter notification, the rights holder may then sue the website owner/operator or the website's domain name itself in federal court. Some people these measures amount to "Internet censorship" and that they would impair free speech. Additionally, there are also concerns that the legislation will disrupt the technical integrity of the Internet. Be assured I will keep your thoughts in mind as I continue to support both consumers and creators of intellectual property.
Again, it's good to hear from you. The people of Marin and Sonoma counties are the most important voices I listen to as I serve in Congress.
Sincerely,
<v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape style="WIDTH: 249.75pt; HEIGHT: 54.75pt" id=_x0000_i1025 alt="" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:href="https://woolsey.house.gov//images/user_images/Sigfontwoolsey.jpg" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Jane/LOCALS~1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape>
Lynn Woolsey
Member of Congress
Thank you for contacting me about H.R. 3261, Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me on this issue.
Innovation and the development of new technology are the driving forces behind the continued growth of the American economy. It's been over ten years since we updated our copyright laws and it's necessary to reform the system to accommodate for a new era of innovation. To retain our place in the world as the preeminent innovators of intellectual property, it's important that we promote an environment in which the exchange of ideas flourishes. We must ensure that a proper balance is struck between creators' rights and the need for public access to intellectual property. H.R. 3261 increases the criminal penalties for online streaming of copyrighted content, create criminal penalties for trafficking in counterfeit drugs, increase penalties for foreign espionage, and require the appointment of dedicated IP personnel in U.S. embassies. SOPA also allows IP rights holders to send a written request to financial transaction providers and Internet advertisers asking them to terminate business relationships with a website (whether domestic or foreign) that is dedicated to theft of U.S. property; if such request is ignored, or if the website files a counter notification, the rights holder may then sue the website owner/operator or the website's domain name itself in federal court. Some people these measures amount to "Internet censorship" and that they would impair free speech. Additionally, there are also concerns that the legislation will disrupt the technical integrity of the Internet. Be assured I will keep your thoughts in mind as I continue to support both consumers and creators of intellectual property.
Again, it's good to hear from you. The people of Marin and Sonoma counties are the most important voices I listen to as I serve in Congress.
Sincerely,
<v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape style="WIDTH: 249.75pt; HEIGHT: 54.75pt" id=_x0000_i1025 alt="" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:href="https://woolsey.house.gov//images/user_images/Sigfontwoolsey.jpg" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Jane/LOCALS~1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape>
Lynn Woolsey
Member of Congress