Microsoft Supports Protect IP act, wants to ensure protections for the free flow of information

Brad Smith, General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Microsoft, expressed the company's support for the Protect IP act on the Microsoft on the Issues Blog:

We support the goals and approach of this important legislation, and urge the committee to report it. The PROTECT IP Act is aimed at providing new tools to challenge the proliferation of “rogue sites” -- Internet sites that are dedicated to infringing content or counterfeit goods. It would establish both governmental and private rights of action in an effort to address what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates to be a multi-billion dollar a year problem that threatens U.S. creators and innovators, places U.S. consumers at risk, harms our economy and costs American jobs.

At the same time, Smith expressed Microsoft's desire that the "free flow of information" not be stifled:

Safeguards should be included to ensure that rogue sites are identified clearly and appropriately, and that the responsibilities of companies required to take action to ensure compliance are well defined and their liability appropriately limited. In addition, steps should be taken to ensure that the private right of action is not subject to abuse, and that the new actions and resulting orders do not stifle free speech or the free flow of information.

The full text and other information about S.968, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011 (Protect IP) can be found on THOMAS