ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On behalf of 2,000 of the nation’s leading technology companies, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® has raised significant fact-based concerns about the broad scope of the Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R. 3261). The following statement can be attributed to Michael Petricone, senior vice president, Government and Regulatory Affairs, CEA:
“Our message today is simple: Don’t kill the Internet with SOPA. We strongly oppose counterfeiting and piracy. But solutions must be smart and targeted to get the bad guys without ensnaring legitimate innovators.
“As drafted, SOPA goes too far – it would promote lawsuits against legitimate companies, discourage innovation and cost jobs. That is why it is opposed by tea partiers, independent musicians, progressives, law professors, Internet engineers, consumer groups, venture capitalists, online entrepreneurs and world-leading American companies like Google, eBay, Yahoo, Amazon, Facebook and Twitter. The innovation industry is creating jobs and driving the American economy. SOPA re-writes the rules of the Internet and gives a small group of litigious copyright owners – Hollywood, record labels and others – the power to put legitimate companies out of business.
“It is possible to strike an appropriate balance among IP protection, freedom of speech and online innovation. If the content community is truly committed to addressing illegal commercial counterfeiting without harming the extraordinary technologies that are driving our economy forward, we invite them to engage in a serious dialogue about changes to H.R. 3261 – and S.968 – that attack the parasite without killing the host.”
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $190 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org, www.DeclareInnovation.com and through social media; .
UPCOMING EVENTS
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CES Unveiled@London
November 17, 2011, London, UK -
Future of Television East
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2012 International CES
January 10-13, 2012, Las Vegas, NV