SOPA markup hearing to resume in February

[OhioChick]

Smith says he'll push forward with the controversial copyright enforcement legislation

January 17, 2012 05:39 PM ET

IDG News Service - A hearing to amend and debate the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act should resume in February, its chief sponsor said, even in the face of new opposition to the copyright enforcement bill.

The House Judiciary Committee held three days of so-called markup hearings on SOPA in December, but opponents of the bill flooded the committee with more than 20 amendments. In a markup hearing, a committee votes on amendments to a bill and votes on whether to approve the bill and send it to the full House for action.

Representative Lamar Smith, the lead sponsor of SOPA and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday he intends to resume the markup session next month. "To enact legislation that protects consumers, businesses and jobs from foreign thieves who steal America's intellectual property, we will continue to bring together industry representatives and members to find ways to combat online piracy," Smith, a Texas Republican, said in a statement.

Last Friday, Smith said he plans to offer an amendment taking out a provision in the bill that would allow the U.S. Department of Justice to seek court orders requiring U.S. ISPs (Internet service providers) to block subscriber access to foreign websites accused of copyright infringement.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223504/Sponsor_SOPA_markup_hearing_to_resume_in_February