• Source: List of members of the U.S. Congress who support or oppose SOPA/PIPA

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) are two proposed draft laws that were being considered by the United States Congress. Their stated goals are to increase the ability of U.S. law enforcement to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods, and give the U.S. government and copyright holders additional tools to curb access to "rogue websites dedicated to infringing or counterfeit goods", especially those registered outside the United States.
Supporters of the laws argued that they are needed to protect the intellectual property of owners of content. Opponents of the laws argued that they endanger free speech and free expression by harmfully regulating the internet.




Supporters of SOPA/PIPA



SOPA is the bill under consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives. PIPA is the related bill under consideration by the U.S. Senate.




= SOPA Sponsors

=
The Stop Online Piracy Act was introduced by Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX).



Sponsors at introduction

SOPA was initially co-sponsored by 12 Representatives:



Subsequent sponsors

After its initial introduction, other Representatives became co-sponsors of SOPA:




= Senators who support PIPA

=

The Protect IP Act (PIPA) was introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid planned to bring it to a vote on January 24. Reid rejected a request by six Senators for a postponement, saying "this is an issue that is too important to delay".
As of January 17, 2012, PIPA was co-sponsored by:




Opponents of SOPA/PIPA






= Representatives opposed to SOPA/PIPA

=
In December 2011, Representative Ron Paul spoke out against SOPA, deriding it as a bill that would "take over the Internet". Paul thus became the first major presidential candidate to publicly oppose the SOPA.



Former SOPA supporters

Benjamin Quayle (R-AZ) (withdrew Jan 18)
Dennis A. Ross (R-FL) (withdrew Jan 18)
Lee Terry (R-NE) (withdrew Jan 18)




= Senators opposed to SOPA/PIPA

=

Sen. Ron Wyden was one of the opposition leaders against PIPA. On November 28, 2011, Wyden issued a filibuster threat with Sen. Jerry Moran if SOPA/PIPA made it to the floor. A January 20, 2012, editorial in the Daily Kos described Wyden as "The biggest SOPA/PIPA hero". After Senator Wyden, Senator Moran was one of the first Senators to recognize the problems with PIPA and to take a stand against the bill Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown (R) also publicly voiced his opposition to the legislation as well as its sister bill in the House, SOPA.
Opposition



Former PIPA supporters





Legislative narrative






= Senate Judiciary Committee

=
In May 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to report in favor of PIPA.

However, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) placed a "Senate hold" on the bill, postponing it from going to a full floor vote.




= U.S. Senate

=
On January 13, six Republican co-sponsors of the bill released a letter of concern, reading in part:"We have increasingly heard from a large number of constituents and other stakeholders with vocal concerns about possible unintended consequences of the proposed legislation, including breaches in cybersecurity, damaging the integrity of the Internet, costly and burdensome litigation, and dilution of First Amendment rights."

On January 17, Senator Ron Wyden announced his intention to filibuster PIPA if necessary.
January 18 saw the Internet Blackout protests in which websites coordinated to oppose SOPA/PIPA. In the wake of online protests, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the PIPA vote previously scheduled for January 24 would be postponed.




= SOPA in the House of Representatives

=
Representative Lamar S. Smith introduced SOPA. Smith remarked of the bill:

"The Stop Online Piracy Act helps American innovators by protecting U.S. intellectual property from foreign criminals."




= Legislative timeline

=
May 12, 2011 – PIPA introduced to Senate
May 26, 2011 – Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously votes to report in favor of PIPA
Oct 26, 2011 – SOPA introduced to House
Nov 16, 2011 – House Judiciary Committee hearing on SOPA
Dec 15, 2011 – House markup on SOPA
Jan 13, 2012 – Six PIPA Co-sponsors write letter of concern
Jan 14, 2012 – White House issues formal response to SOPA/PIPA petition
Jan 18, 2012 – Internet Blackout protest; 6 Senators withdraw support: Kelly Ayotte, John Boozman, Roy Blunt, Orrin Hatch, Mark Kirk, Marco Rubio. Two Representatives withdraw support: Benjamin Quayle, Lee Terry
Jan 20, 2012 – Senate Majority Leader Reid announces vote on PIPA will be postponed
Jan 24, 2012 – Senate vote on PIPA which was scheduled for this date has been postponed




See also


List of organizations with official stances on the Stop Online Piracy Act




References



ProPublica.org on PIPA
ProPublica.org on SOPA

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• List of members of the U.S. Congress who support or oppose SOPA/PIPA
• Protests against SOPA and PIPA
• Stop Online Piracy Act
• Jared Polis
• Ron Wyden
• Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act
• List of open letters by academics
• Kay Hagan
• Jerry Moran
• Russian Wikipedia blackout