Politics & Government

Congressmen Speak Out Against SOPA

Congressmen Tim Holden and Charlie Dent say they do not support the Stop Online Piracy Act.

Local members of Congress say they are against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which prompted web protests Wednesday on sites like Wikipedia and Google.

--a Democrat whose 17th district will include much of Northampton County when redistricting takes effect--said Wednesday he had changed his mind on SOPA. The act is aimed at stopping online piracy.

Sites like Wikipedia went dark out of fears that the law would "could fatally damage the free and open Internet."

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In a statement posted on his Facebook page Wednesday afternoon, Holden said:

"Based on my background as a sheriff, the Stop Online Piracy Act, commonly referred to as SOPA, was brought to me as a law enforcement bill. At its core, the bill's intent to eliminate theft by foreign websites protects the intellectual property of American manufacturers of all spheres.

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"However, the possible unintended consequences, such as stifling innovation and limiting free speech on the Internet, have come to the forefront of debate. An open Internet requires that we find a better approach that is acceptable to all sides."

Holden said he would withdraw his co-sponsorship of the bill and "work to find a solution that protects both the openness and innovation of the Internet as well as intellectual property."

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-15th, said he wouldn't be supporting SOPA, but issued a statement saying he thought it "will help generate a necessary dialogue about the need to combat the illegal activity of online piracy."


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