U.S. Congress Member swho support SOPA/PIPA
The Electronic Frontier Foundation expressed concern that free and open source software (FOSS) projects found to be aiding online piracy could experience serious problems under SOPA.Of special concern was the web browser Firefox, which has an optional extension, MAFIAAFire Redirector, that redirects users to a new location for domains that were seized by the U.S. government. In May 2011, Mozilla refused a request by the United States Department of Homeland Security to remove MAFIAAFire from its website, questioning whether the software had ever been declared illegal
The AFL–CIO’s Paul Almeida, arguing in favor of SOPA, has stated that free speech was not a relevant consideration, because “Freedom of speech is not the same as lawlessness on the Internet. There is no inconsistency between protecting an open Internet and safeguarding intellectual property. Protecting intellectual property is not the same as censorship; the First Amendment does not protect stealing goods off trucks.”
Policy analysts for New America Foundation say this legislation would enable law enforcement to take down an entire domain due to something posted on a single blog, arguing, “an entire largely innocent online community could be punished for the actions of a tiny minority”
The Stop Online Piracy Act was introduced by Representative Lamar Smith.
Sponsors at introduction
- Howard Berman
- Mary Bono Mack
- Steve Chabot
- John Conyers
- Ted Deutch
- Elton Gallegly
- Bob Goodlatte
- Adam Schiff
- Marsha Blackburn
- Timothy Griffin
- Withdrew Sponsorship
- Dennis A. Ross
- Withdrew Sponsorship
- Lee Terry
Subsequent sponsors
- Mark Amodei
- Joe Baca
- John Barrow
- Karen Bass
- John Carter
- Judy Chu
- Jim Cooper
- Peter T. King
- John Larson
- Ben R. Luján
- Thomas Marino
- Alan Nunnelee
- Bill Owens
- Steve Scalise
- Brad Sherman
- Debbie Wasserman Schultz
- Melvin Watt
- Tim Holden
- Benjamin Quayle
Senators who support PIPA
The Protect IP Act was introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy. 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”.
- Lamar Alexander
- Jeff Bingaman
- Richard Blumenthal
- Barbara Boxer
- Sherrod Brown
- Bob Casey, Jr.
- Saxby Chambliss
- Thad Cochran
- Chris Coons
- Bob Corker
- Dick Durbin
- Mike Enzi
- Dianne Feinstein
- Al Franken
- Kirsten Gillibrand
- Lindsey Graham
- Chuck Grassley
- Kay Hagan
- Johnny Isakson
- Tim Johnson
- Amy Klobuchar
- Herb Kohl
- Mary Landrieu
- Joseph Lieberman
- John McCain
- Bob Menendez
- Bill Nelson
- Jim Risch
- Chuck Schumer
- Jeanne Shaheen
- Tom Udall
- Sheldon Whitehouse
- Benjamin Quayle
- Dennis A. Ross
- Lee Terry
Senate Judiciary Committee
In May 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to report in favor of PIPA
- Patrick Leahy
- Herb Kohl
- Dianne Feinstein
- Chuck Schumer
- Richard Durbin
- Sheldon Whitehouse
- Amy Klobuchar
- Al Franken
- Chris Coons
- Richard Blumenthal
- Chuck Grassley
- Orrin Hatch
- Jon Kyl
- Jeff Sessions
- Lindsey Graham
- John Cornyn
- Mike Lee
- Tom Coburn
Brooklyn Law School professor Jason Mazzone warned, “Much of what will happen under SOPA will occur out of the public eye and without the possibility of holding anyone accountable. For when copyright law is made and enforced privately, it is hard for the public to know the shape that the law takes and harder still to complain about its operation
