Library Copyright Alliance Writes Letter to House Judiciary Committee Regarding Stop Online Piracy Act

LCA Writes Letter to House Judiciary Committee Regarding SOPA (PDF)

I write on behalf the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA), consisting of three major library associations—the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the Association of Research Libraries—that collectively represent over 139,000 libraries in the United States employing over 350,000 librarians and other personnel. I write to express our serious concerns with the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). While we agree with many of the criticisms raised by others with respect to Title I, this letter will focus on problems section 201 could cause for libraries and their users.
Two provisions of section 201—the definition of willfulness in section 201(c) and the expansion of criminal penalties to public performances in section 201(a)—are troubling. While each provision is problematic in its own right, the two together could threaten important library and educational activities.

Source: Brandon Butler, ARL Director of Public Policy Initiatives, on behalf of the Library Copyright Alliance (American Library Association, the Association of Research Libraries, and the Association of College and Research Libraries)

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Associations and Organizations, Libraries, News, Patrons and Users