PROTECT IP Act

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Protect Intellectual Property Act (Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act), also called PIPA, was a proposed American law to stop copyright infringement on the Internet.[1] The law would give copyright holders new ways to deal with websites infringing copyright.

Critics said the proposed law would have hidden risks and unintended consequences.[2]

Protest[change | change source]

The English language Wikipedia page from 18 January 2012, illustrating its international blackout in opposition to SOPA and PIPA.

Some people and businesses support the law while others are alarmed by the law. Supporters worry that the current copyright law is not effective in shutting down piracy websites. Opponents worry that the law is a kind of censorship.[3] It is hard to tell which side is correct because the language in the law is still being written.

Related pages[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. PROTECT IP is a complex acronym. PROTECT stands for "Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft". IP is an acronym for "Intellectual Property".
  2. Espinel, Victoria et al. "Combating Online Piracy while Protecting an Open and Innovative Internet," White House (US). January 14, 2012; Friedman, Allan A. "Cybersecurity in the Balance: Weighing the Risks of the Protect Intellectual Property Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act," Archived 2012-01-03 at the Wayback Machine Brookings (US), November 15, 2011; retrieved 2012-1-18.
  3. Azarova, Katerina. "Wikipedia blackout: 24-hour strike against SOPA, PIPA is on," RT Archived 2012-01-18 at the Wayback Machine (Russia), 18 January, 2012; retrieved 2012-1-18.

Other websites[change | change source]