Dear Mr. Wood:
Thank you for contacting me regarding your opposition to H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), and S. 968, the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). I agree with you and have strongly opposed these bills since their introduction several months ago. Ensuring open access to the Internet is critical.
As you may know, SOPA and PIPA, as currently written, would give the Justice Department increased authority to pursue websites that offer pirated or counterfeit material. They were designed to protect the intellectual property of innovators on the Internet; however I am very concerned about their potential to improperly control information. SOPA and PIPA shut down the free flow of information and restrict access to the Internet.
In November of 2011, shortly after the SOPA act was introduced, I, along with ten of my colleagues, signed a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee expressing serious concern with the legislation. We made our worries known and suggested that members work together to find a solution that would protect innovation.
I am pleased to tell you that I am an original cosponsor of an alternative bill recently introduced on the House floor. The Online Protection and ENforcement of Digital Trade Act or OPEN Act was written to protect creative ownership in the United States while securing access to the Internet for everyone. The OPEN Act will not censor or block access to websites. Unlike alternative bills introduced in the House and Senate, the OPEN Act specifically targets only the online offenders who run sites that purposefully steal others' work. To read more about this legislation please visit www.KeepTheWebOpen.com.
Rest assured I will continue to work diligently to ensure open access to the internet for all Americans. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. Having the benefit of your views is important, and I appreciate you sharing them with me.
I remain respectfully,
JOHN CAMPBELL
Member of Congress
