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Bishop Statement on the Stop Online Piracy Act

Statement

Date: Jan. 18, 2012
Issues: Technology and Communication Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Piracy of goods and intellectual property hurts America's economy. Many solutions to this problem have been proposed in Congress, including SOPA, which is currently under consideration in the House Judiciary Committee.

However, SOPA's potential for unintended consequences, should it be enacted in its current form, are extremely concerning. I am primarily concerned about the bill's potential impact on consumers' ability to access an open and free Internet, including lawful domestic websites.

I oppose the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) as it is currently drafted. I hope that as the legislative process continues, the important concerns of all parties can be addressed in a way that protects both property rights and the freedom of the Internet.


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