Several members of the Copyright Alliance voiced their support for new legislation introduced in the House of Representatives today, H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act.

Here is a sample of statements made today:

“It will be tremendously beneficial for those whose livelihood depends on the ability to exploit copyrights in a free market to have a government partner helping advance a worldwide enforceable regime for the protection of Intellectual Property online. As music creators and investors in the music creation and promotion of our artists, we applaud our bi-partisan legislative supporters and support their proposed actions.”

-American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)

“Without proactive measures like the STOP Online Piracy Act, rogues sites will continue to siphon away wages and benefits from members of the creative community, greatly compromising our industry’s ability to foster creativity, provide opportunities, and ensure good jobs. We thank Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Conyers, and Congressmen Berman and Goodlatte as well as the bill’s other cosponsors for recognizing through their action today that the works created by our members - the result of talent, creativity, collaboration and years of hard work – are not only valuable contributions to our culture but are worthy of being protected from rogue sites and the profiteers who operate them.“

- Statement made by American Federation of Musicians (AFM), American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), and Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

"While adjustments will be necessary to reconcile the House and Senate bills and secure the votes for final passage, Arts + Labs endorses the key premise in both measures: namely, that all actors in the Internet ecosystem must play a role in helping protect the rights of those who create content while fostering innovation. Ultimately, these twin goals help fight the digital theft that robs the U.S. economy and threatens creativity. We also are pleased that the proposals recognize the critical need for substantial due process safeguards and the central role of federal law enforcement."

-Statement by Arts+Labs

“Today Chairman Smith and his co-sponsors in the House of Representatives have taken a good step by advancing legislation to crack down on the scourge of online software piracy… As Congress continues its work on this important legislation, it will be important to strike the right balance between two sets of considerations — enabling effective action against online pirates, while also ensuring the law does not impede technology innovation or the evolution of software and the Internet, which are critical engines for future economic growth. We look forward to working with Chairman Smith and his colleagues as they push this important legislation forward.”

-Robert Holleyman, President and CEO, Business Software Association

“We applaud Chairman Smith on the introduction of the Stop Online Piracy Act, an important step forward that recognizes that a vibrant digital economy is critical to American job creation and innovation. Our broadband customers will continue to access and enjoy all legal content. The Stop Online Piracy Act is narrowly targeted to only illegal streaming activities or rogue websites found by a court to be engaged in trademark counterfeiting or illegally reproducing or distributing material protected by copyright. Thus, this legislation, if enacted, would protect the Internet as an engine of innovation and economic growth, rather than as an environment that allows digital theft and counterfeiting to thrive.”

-Kyle McLarrow, President, Comcast/NBCUniversal

“Piracy and counterfeiting are NOT ‘victimless crime. Intellectual property protection is critical to the U.S. economy and serves the interests of a secure and content-rich Internet ecosystem… The more securely we are able to protect creative goods online, the more we facilitate new and exciting business models for the creation and distribution of creative goods.”

-Tom Giovanetti, President, IPI

“Over 2 million Americans across all 50 states earn a living and support their families in jobs connected to the making of motion pictures and television shows. They deserve better than to see their work stolen out from under them by criminals out to make a profit. This legislation hits rogue sites where it hurts: their access to American consumers and to the financial services they use to make money. We want to thank Chairman Smith, Chairman Goodlatte and the other co-sponsors for standing up for good American jobs.

-Michael O’Leary, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, Motion Picture Association of America

“The Internet is an important tool which has opened opportunities for our industry from distribution to marketing to connecting with fans, but there is a segment of web operators who are criminals, pure and simple, and we must do more to stop them. Current laws tie the hands of both law enforcement and judicial personnel in many instances, to the detriment of American business and consumers. Legislation introduced today in the U.S. House would help fix that, enabling our justice system to go after criminal operatives. The music publishing and songwriting communities support these efforts and urge the entire House to move this important bill forward soon.”

-David Israelite, President and CEO, National Music Publishers’ Association

“This legislation is a first step towards a brighter day when these rogue offshore websites can no longer duck accountability under U.S. laws, all the while providing a critical boost to the marketplace for legal digital music services. This bipartisan effort serves as another example of the broad and borderless role that intermediaries can play in discouraging digital theft.

-Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO, Recording Industry Association of America