TechFlash – Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) is throwing her support behind a proposed law that would crack down on the piracy of movies and songs on the internet.
Cantwell is joining fellow senators, including Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in backing the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN).
In supporting the bill, Cantwell has criticized a different anti-piracy bill aimed mostly at foreign websites. That bill, the Protect IP Act, seeks to protect intellectual property and shut down rogue websites. But critics say the Protect IP Act in the Senate takes a heavy-handed approach by threatening to shut down too many websites and violate free-speech and free-commerce protections.
The House is considering a similar bill, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
Cantwell, an early employee of Seattle tech company RealNetworks, said the OPEN Act would accomplish the same goals as the Protect IP Act, without “catastrophic effects to the Internet.”
As one of the most beautiful states in the union–and one of the richest in natural resources–Washington has a special interest in energy and environmental policy. And Maria has fought hard to uphold the state’s conservation tradition, while also working to bring our energy policy into the 21st century.
Maria knows Washington’s business community – because, as an executive at an innovative software company, she was part of it. And as a Senator, she’s led the way in helping businesses large and small throughout Washington grow, thrive, and create jobs.
Maria has taken a leadership role on safety and security issues, including defending our borders, strengthening our military, cracking down on gangs, and taking on drug crime in Washington communities
Middle-class families around Washington and across the country are facing tough times–and tough decisions about balancing the family checkbook each month. Maria has fought to strengthen the economic security of Washington families and cut taxes for middle-class families.
