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 Post Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 10:04 am 
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Oregon Senator Ron Wyden is saving the Internet from government censorship. Wyden is vowing to stop the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA), a bill that would have given the government power to censor the Internet.

Thursday afternoon Wyden pledged to “take the necessary steps to stop COICA from passing the United States Senate." Wyden's opposition means the bill is likely dead this year. Individual senators can place holds on legislation, and there are only a few working days left in the congressional session this year.

The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA) is being sold as a way to combat Internet counterfeiting and online violations of copyright law. COICA would have permitted a blanket takedown of any domain alleged to be assisting activities that violate copyright law.

COICA sets up a system through which the US government can blacklist a pirate website from the Domain Name System, ban credit card companies from processing US payments to the site, and forbid online ad networks from working with the site. It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 19-0 this week.

Yet COICA is a deeply troubling bill that would set a dangerous precedent. Oregon Senator Wyden, Democrat, had the following to say about COICA:

“It seems to me that online copyright infringement is a legitimate problem, but it seems to me that COICA as written is the wrong medicine. Deploying this statute to combat online copyright infringement seems almost like using a bunker-busting cluster bomb when what you really need is a precision-guided missile.”

“The collateral damage of this statute could be American innovation, American jobs, and a secure Internet.”

Wyden is right to block COICA. COICA is excessive, and poses a threat to free speech. Ron Wyden is doing America, the world, and netizens everywhere a great service by preventing the US government from claiming power to censor the Internet.


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