The Hill News

As speculation continues over what to expect from a polarized 112th Congress, legislative attacks on Internet pirates offering fake Louis Vuitton bags and illegal movie downloads online could be an issue that gains traction in 2011. Both Republicans and Democrats view counterfeiting as a global problem that threatens this nation’s economic might and creative talent.

Previous litigation and earlier legislative fixes have failed to alleviate the problem, and now Hollywood and other affected industries last year urged Congress to take a different approach by passing the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act.  COICA aimed at halting the selling, marketing and downloading of illegal materials on Internet sites by cracking down on the domain names of websites that are “dedicated to infringing activities.” Introduced in the Senate last year, COICA garnered bipartisan support and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a unanimous vote last Novemb! er, but controversy over some of the more punitive enforcement measures stalled further action. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is expected to re-introduce legislation in 2011.

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