IFTA Endorses Stop Online Piracy Act Pending in Congress

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Sun, 10/30/2011 - 20:00 -- Nick Dager

The Independent Film & Television Alliance has announced its support of bi-partisan comprehensive intellectual property enforcement legislation introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Lamar Smith (R-TX) John Conyers (D-MI) Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Howard Berman (D-CA) designed to shut down rogue foreign websites that profit from American-made films television shows and other content.
 
The Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R. 3261) which considers the role of all players in the online ecosystem and aims to follow the money supporting online theft could help stem the loss of thousands of jobs resulting from the illegal online distribution of content.   The bill was also co-sponsored by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) Rep. Mary Bono-Mack (R-CA) Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) Rep. Tim Griffin (R-AR) Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL) and Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE). Jean Prewitt IFTA president & CEO says “Online theft in the U.S. and overseas threatens the independent film industry and must be stopped. For the Independents who finance films by pre-selling the rights to distributors worldwide the drastic damage caused by online theft is measured both in films that cannot be produced and in lost returns on investment in films that have been produced. Independents account for 70 percent of all U.S. film production so every independent film that can’t be financed and produced has a dramatic impact on jobs and the economy.  We appreciate the House Judiciary Committee’s serious bipartisan work in bringing this bill forward to address both rogue websites and felony streaming and we look forward to working with them to ensure that strong measures are adopted.”
  IFTA is working alongside the National Association of Theatre Owners the Motion Picture Association of America the Deluxe Entertainment Services Group and a growing coalition of entertainment union workers and organizations businesses and labor groups involved in the production sale and distribution of creative content in support of the legislation.