A diverse group of companies including Nike, Adidas and several professional sports leagues praised the Obama administration for cracking down on online piracy. The companies wrote to Attorney General Eric Holder and John Morton, director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, expressing their appreciation for the administration shutting down websites that traffic in counterfeit and pirated goods in November as part of “Operation In Our Sites.”
“We believe that the online marketplace can only work for consumers and creators if there is respect for property rights and the rule of law – and urge you to continue to act against the kinds of domains that you have targeted,” the firms wrote. “Unfortunately, there are far too many sites stealing from our businesses but we believe that your efforts will drive consumers to the many legitimate online ventures and services that we have worked hard to foster and support.”
The firms also include NBC Universal Xerox, Adidas and Tiffany & Co.
The agency's “Operation In Our Sites” actions let to the issuance of warrants in June to seize nine Internet domain names engaged in piracy of copyrighted content. A second operation carried out in November involved the seizure of 82 domain names of commercial websites that the agency said were illegally selling and distributing counterfeit goods and copyrighted works.
The firms also wrote in support of the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA), which stalled in the Senate during last Congress after passing the Judiciary Committee and will likely be introduced again this session by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
The bill would make it easier for the Justice Department to shut down websites providing pirated materials by shutting down the domain after receiving a preliminary court order. The bill has broad support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as well as the clothing, entertainment and software industries.
