Innovation Asset Blog

Congress proposes bill to target online copyright infringement

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are currently discussing a bill that could give law enforcement agencies jurisdiction to shut down websites containing material which violates copyright protections.

Twitter, YouTube and a variety of popular news websites could be affected by the proposed legislation, according to PC World, and digital rights advocates are already expressing concern that the regulations may go too far. Even common linking strategies could reportedly be called into question.

"The bill would overturn the long-accepted principles and practices of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice and takedown process in favor of a one-sided enforcement mechanism," Public Knowledge co-founder Gigi Sohn told the news source.

However, as the nation continues to face a stagnant labor market, supporters of the bill have suggested that intellectual property protection cannot be compromised.

According to the Washington Post, congressional leaders have reminded critics that millions of American jobs are tied to the entertainment and digital media industry. If allowed to continue, digital copyright infringement can negatively impact current businesses and discourage innovators from entering the marketplace.

Peter Ackerman

Peter Ackerman

Founder & CEO, Innovation Asset Group, Inc.