Orrin Hatch: “I rise today to discuss S. 320, the Intellectual Property and High Technology Technical Amendments Act, which I have…”

“I rise today to discuss S. 320, the Intellectual Property and High Technology Technical Amendments Act, which I have worked on with my distinguished colleague, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Leahy. We have had a very productive relationship in the Judiciary Committee in the area of high technology and intellectual property. Our bipartisan cooperation has resulted in much good legislation that has helped American consumers and businesses and which has encouraged American innovation and creativity, including greater deployment of the Internet. Some recent examples of our work include the following items: The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act, which authorized the carriage of local television stations by satellite carriers, has brought local television to thousands across the country who might not have been able to get it before, and has brought competition in subscription television services to many others who before could only choose the local cable company. The passage last year of a loan guarantee program will help make the benefits of this law more widely available. The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act helps guard against fraudulent or pornographic websites that confuse, offend, or defraud unwitting online consumers who go to sites with famous business names only to find that someone else is using that trademarked name in bad faith under false pretenses.”