Google, Yahoo join opposition to rogue website legislation
Google, Yahoo, Facebook and several other large Web companies today joined a growing chorus of strong opposition to proposed legislation that aims to curb online IP and copyright theft by foreign sites.
The opponents contend that the two proposed laws, the Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R. 3261) and the PROTECT IP Act (S.968), would result in Internet censorship. Critics say both bills are overly broad and mostly serve the interests of Hollywood and the U.S. music industry.
SOPA, currently winding its way through the U.S. House of Representatives, has drawn the most ire because it is widely seen as the most draconian and caters more to the entertainment industry than its U.S. Senate counterpart. In a letter sent to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, Google, Yahoo and others expressed concern over the legislation's "new uncertain liabilities" and "private rights of action."
