Orrin Hatch: “I rise to express support for S. 968, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of…”

“I rise to express support for S. 968, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property, PROTECT, Act as introduced by my colleague, Senator Leahy. Chairman Leahy and I have worked together on the protection of intellectual property rights on a number of occasions over the years and I am pleased to partner with him once again on this important bill. I also want to recognize the efforts of Senator Grassley, the distinguished Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He is a valued friend and his support is greatly appreciated as we move forward. With this legislation, we are sending a strong message to those selling or distributing counterfeit goods online, namely that the United States will strongly protect its intellectual property, IP, rights. Despite what seems to be a common assumption, just because something is available on the Internet does not mean it is free. Fake pharmaceuticals threaten people's lives. Stolen movies, music, and other products threaten the jobs and livelihoods of many people. Every year, these online thieves are making hundreds of millions of dollars by stealing American IP, and this undermines legitimate commerce. This is why protecting property rights is a critical imperative and is why we have come together to introduce the PROTECT IP Act. Utah is considered a very popular State for film and television production activity.…”