Better Enforcement of Online Copyright Would Help, Not Harm, Consumers

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Better Enforcement of Online Copyright Would Help, Not Harm, Consumers
Language: English
Authors: Castro, Daniel, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Source: Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. 2010.
Availability: Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. 1101 K Street NW Suite 610, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-449-1351; Fax: 202-638-4922; e-mail: mail@itif.org; Web site: http://www.itif.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 8
Publication Date: 2010
Document Type: Reports - Evaluative
Descriptors: Copyrights, Internet, Federal Legislation, Criticism, Ideology, Government Role, Crime, Access to Information, Information Policy, Public Policy, Political Attitudes, Computer Mediated Communication, Information Technology, Consumer Economics, Economic Impact, Law Enforcement, Freedom of Speech, Censorship, International Relations
Abstract: Legislation introduced in Congress last month (the "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act") would take an aggressive and needed stand against online piracy, a growing problem that hurts American consumers and costs Americans jobs. Critics of the legislation argue that this bill would hurt free speech, encourage censorship in foreign countries, and cripple the technological infrastructure on which the Internet runs. Not only is this criticism unfounded, but more robust enforcement of digital copyrights would likely lead to a stronger Internet ecosystem and more innovative content and services for consumers. This paper does the following: discusses the problem of digital piracy; provides an overview of the "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act; provides a response to the critics of the legislation; and explains what's really behind these criticisms. (Contains 13 endnotes.)
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2010
Accession Number: ED512451
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Legislation introduced in Congress last month (the "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act") would take an aggressive and needed stand against online piracy, a growing problem that hurts American consumers and costs Americans jobs. Critics of the legislation argue that this bill would hurt free speech, encourage censorship in foreign countries, and cripple the technological infrastructure on which the Internet runs. Not only is this criticism unfounded, but more robust enforcement of digital copyrights would likely lead to a stronger Internet ecosystem and more innovative content and services for consumers. This paper does the following: discusses the problem of digital piracy; provides an overview of the "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act; provides a response to the critics of the legislation; and explains what's really behind these criticisms. (Contains 13 endnotes.)