Senate Judiciary Committee passes anti-piracy legislation

On November 18, the United States Senate Judiciary Committee voted on important anti-piracy legislation, the "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeit Act of 2010" (S. 3804). The bill passed by a unanimous and bipartisan vote of 19-0. This legislation cracks down on rogue Internet sites, both in the U.S. and abroad, that are dedicated to trafficking in stolen copyrighted works and counterfeit goods. The legislation empowers the Department of Justice to more expeditiously shut down rogue sites based in the U.S. With regard to foreign rogue sites, the Department will now be able to obtain the cooperation of Internet service providers, credit card companies and payment processors that otherwise may be facilitating their illegal operations.