February 23, 2012
Dear Mr. Burns:
Thanks very much for getting in touch with me and letting me know what’s on your mind regarding intellectual property rights.
Each year, the U.S. economy loses billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs due to online piracy and the sale of counterfeit goods. The music industry in Tennessee is a major contributor to jobs and our economy, and it is vital that we protect the rights of musicians and artists, and all others who create intellectual property throughout the state.
That’s why I joined as a cosponsor of the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act, more commonly known as Protect IP. This legislation is intended to give the U.S. Department of Justice appropriate tools to quickly locate and shut down foreign websites that provide illegal downloads. Foreign websites dedicated to infringement of intellectual property are a significant economic threat and need to be shut down. This legislation is a step towards protecting Americans’ intellectual property while preserving the Internet as a free and open marketplace.
I understand and appreciate the concerns raised about potential unintended consequences of the introduced bill. No legislation is ever perfect on introduction, and the legislative process will hopefully improve this bill if it moves forward. The authors of the bill are working with supporters and opponents of the legislation to improve the bill to address these legitimate concerns while ensuring that the intellectual property of American thinkers and creators is protected. I look forward to seeing the result of those discussions and hope that a thoughtful compromise is possible.
I am grateful that you took the time to get in touch with me. Your comments are important to me and I’ll be sure to keep them in mind as these issues
Sincerely,
Lamar
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