Changes

# '''Recognize the difference between copyright infringement and counterfeits'''- A one-size-fits-all approach towards trademarks and copyright may not be appropriate.

# '''Recognize the difference between copyright infringement and counterfeits'''- A one-size-fits-all approach towards trademarks and copyright may not be appropriate.

In separate statements, Wyden promised that he will do everything in his capacity to block the passage of the bill in the Senate. According to him, COICA is a "wrong medicine" to combat online copyright infringement. He further describe the bill as "bunker-busting cluster bomb" that will damage American innovation, jobs and the security of the internet.<ref>[http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/211162/senator_threatens_to_block_online_copyright_bill.html Senator Threatens to Block Online Copyright Bill]</ref> The bill was never enacted.

In separate statements, Wyden promised that he would do everything in his capacity to block the passage of the bill in the Senate. According to him, COICA was the "wrong medicine" to combat online copyright infringement. He further describe the bill as a "bunker-busting cluster bomb" that would damage American innovation, jobs, and the security of the Internet.<ref>[http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/211162/senator_threatens_to_block_online_copyright_bill.html Senator Threatens to Block Online Copyright Bill]</ref> The bill was never enacted.

===Fight Against PIPA===

===Fight Against PIPA===

On May 12, 2011, Senator Patrick Leahy introduced '''Protect IP ACT of 2011 ([[PIPA]])''', which was supported by 40 other senators in the Senate. The provisions of the bill is similar to COICA which was introduced the previous year by Sen. Leahy. As expected, Sen. Wyden is against it and he promised to filibuster on the Senate floor, will reach out to his colleagues-both Republican and Democrats and explain to them the reasons of the widespread opposition against PIPA. The Senate is scheduled to vote for the passage of the bill on January 24, 2012.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57345187-281/senate-will-vote-next-month-on-protect-ip-copyright-bill/ Senate will vote next month on Protect IP copyright bill]</ref> <ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=25ee8d2c-14a0-4832-a821-aaaef19ad50f Wyden Delivers Floor Speech on the Motion to Proceed to Protect IP- Reaffirms his promise to filibuster the bill when it is brought to the floor in January]</ref>

On May 12, 2011, Senator Patrick Leahy introduced Protect IP ACT of 2011 ([[PIPA]]), which was supported by 40 other senators in the Senate. The provisions of the bill were similar to COICA, which had been introduced the previous year by Sen. Leahy. As expected, Sen. Wyden is against PIPA and has promised to filibuster the bill on the Senate floor. He plans to reach out to his colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, and explain to them his reasons for widespread opposition against PIPA. The Senate was scheduled to vote for the passage of the bill on January 24, 2012.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57345187-281/senate-will-vote-next-month-on-protect-ip-copyright-bill/ Senate will vote next month on Protect IP copyright bill]</ref><ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=25ee8d2c-14a0-4832-a821-aaaef19ad50f Wyden Delivers Floor Speech on the Motion to Proceed to Protect IP- Reaffirms his promise to filibuster the bill when it is brought to the floor in January]</ref>

===OPEN Act:Alternative Bill to PIPA===

===OPEN Act: Alternative Bill to PIPA===

On December 17, 2011, Senator Wyden issued a press release informing the public that he created a bipartisan coalition with Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washinton) to sponsor an alternative bill to protect intellectual property rights that will no harm the current internet architecture. The proposed legislation will be called '''Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act ([[OPEN]]).''' According to the Senators, OPEN will target websites that are "willfully" and "primarily" infringing on copyright materials. Violators will be subject to investigation through the International Trade Commission ([[ITC]]). The websites will only be shutdown once proven guilty. Senator Wyden said, “The OPEN act meets the same publicly-stated goals as [[SOPA]] or Protect IP without causing massive damage to the Internet. The OPEN act expands the ability of the ITC to investigate IP infringement -- providing a forum for due process without messing with the inner workings of the Internet. The same goals are met, without the collateral damage SOPA and Protect IP will leave in their wake.”'''<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=5034df19-5b8e-4d45-9f1f-f2c0dd8f17d4 Wyden, Moran, Cantwell Introduce IP Protection Bill that Will Not Break the Net]</ref>

On December 17, 2011, Senator Wyden issued a press release informing the public that he had created a bipartisan coalition with Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washinton) to sponsor an alternative bill to protect intellectual property rights without harming current Internet architecture. The proposed legislation will be called Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act ([[OPEN]]). According to the Senators, OPEN will target websites that are "willfully" and "primarily" infringing on copyright materials. Violators will be subject to investigation through the International Trade Commission ([[ITC]]), and websites will only be shutdown once proven guilty. Senator Wyden said, “The OPEN act meets the same publicly-stated goals as [[SOPA]] or Protect IP without causing massive damage to the Internet. The OPEN act expands the ability of the ITC to investigate IP infringement -- providing a forum for due process without messing with the inner workings of the Internet. The same goals are met, without the collateral damage SOPA and Protect IP will leave in their wake.”<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=5034df19-5b8e-4d45-9f1f-f2c0dd8f17d4 Wyden, Moran, Cantwell Introduce IP Protection Bill that Will Not Break the Net]</ref>

The Draft of the OPEN Act is available [http://www.keepthewebopen.com/assets/pdfs/OPEN.pdf here]

The Draft of the OPEN Act is available [http://www.keepthewebopen.com/assets/pdfs/OPEN.pdf here].

==Comment on ICANN Ethics Rules==

==Comment on ICANN Ethics Rules==

On September 14, 2011, Sen. Wyden wrote to [[NTIA]] Assistant Secretary [[Lawrence Strickling]] about the issue on "revolving door" at ICANN. In his letter Wyden pointed out that sale of domain names has become a multi-million dollar industry and it is expected to experience a significant growth due to the recent approval for the implementation of the new gTLD expansion program. However, Senator Wyden raised his concern regarding the "revolving door" at ICANN. He emphasized that he supports NTIA's administration in regulating [[IANA|Internet Assigned Numbers Authority]], however the senator also pointed out that, '''"IANA employees ought to be made subject to the same ethics rules in place as NTIA employees. With the growth in importance of this authority, it is important to ensure that decisions are made impartially.”'''<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=2e414e69-1250-4ca3-ae6b-2b6091ed52cc Wyden Calls for Ethics Rules to Prevent Revolving Door for Internet Domain Name Regulators]</ref> Senator Wyden recommended the inclusion of strict ethics guidelines that will highlight transparency in the next contract negotiation for the administration of the IANA functions with ICANN or to any other organization. ICANN's IANA contract with NTIA expired on September 30, 2011 but it was extended until March 31, 2012.<ref>

On September 14, 2011, Sen. Wyden wrote to [[NTIA]] Assistant Secretary [[Lawrence Strickling]] about the issue of the "revolving door" at ICANN, referencing how some of the organization's staff and Board members had left their positions after obtaining high-paying industry positions. In his letter, Wyden pointed out that sale of domain names has become a multi-million dollar industry and it is expected to experience a significant growth due to the recent approval for the new gTLD expansion program. In his concern regarding the "revolving door" at ICANN, Wyden emphasized that he supported the NTIA regulating [[IANA|Internet Assigned Numbers Authority]], and pushed that IANA employees should be made subject to the same ethics rules as NTIA employees, in order to ensure that decisions are made impartially.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=2e414e69-1250-4ca3-ae6b-2b6091ed52cc Wyden Calls for Ethics Rules to Prevent Revolving Door for Internet Domain Name Regulators]</ref> Senator Wyden recommended the inclusion of strict ethics guidelines highlighting transparency in the next contract negotiation for the administration of the IANA functions, whether it is made with ICANN or to any other organization.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/us-extends-icanns-iana-contract/ US extends ICANN’s IANA contract]</ref>  

[http://domainincite.com/us-extends-icanns-iana-contract/ US extends ICANN’s IANA contract]</ref>  

Wyden raised his concern after several reports and criticisms were written about the "revolving door" issue when [[Peter Dengate Thrush]] immediately joined [[Minds+Machines]] as Executive Chairman of the company on July 15, 2011. His term expired as Chairman of the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]] on June 24, 2011. Minds+Machines is a company dedicated in providing domain name management solutions including new gTLD applications. Thrush voted for the approval of the implementation of the new [[gTLD]] Expansion Program schedule to start on January 12, 2012.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/icann-departures-draw-criticism/2011/08/19/gIQAzpeDTJ_story_1.html ICANN departures after Web suffix vote draw criticism]</ref>

Wyden raised his concern after several reports and criticisms were written about the "revolving door" issue when [[Peter Dengate Thrush]] joined [[Minds+Machines]] as Executive Chairman of the company on July 15, 2011, immediately following the expiration of his term as Chairman of the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]] on June 24, 2011. Minds+Machines is a company dedicated to providing domain name management solutions, including for new gTLD applications; Thrush voted for the approval of the implementation of the new [[gTLD]] Expansion Program schedule to start on January 12, 2012.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/icann-departures-draw-criticism/2011/08/19/gIQAzpeDTJ_story_1.html ICANN departures after Web suffix vote draw criticism]</ref>

In response, Asst. Sec. Strickling informed Sen. Wyden that NTIA is actively exploring on including provision on the next IANA contract that will provide “a clear and enforced ethics and conflict of interest policy.” Strickling also cited the Notices of Inquiry conducted by the agency in connection with the IANA contract on February and June of 2011 wherein 136 comments were submitted by different internet stakeholders who also expressed their observation that ICANN's policies on accountability and transparency needs to be elevated.<ref>[http://internetcommerce.org/internetcommerce.org/NTIA_on_IANA_to_Wyden NTIA Actively Exploring Inclusion of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Provisions in IANA Contract]</ref>

In response, Asst. Sec. Strickling informed Sen. Wyden that NTIA was actively exploring including provisions in the next IANA contract that would provide “a clear and enforced ethics and conflict of interest policy.” Strickling also cited the Notices of Inquiry conducted by the agency in connection with the IANA contract on February and June of 2011, wherein 136 comments were submitted by various Internet stakeholders who had also expressed their observation that ICANN's policies on accountability and transparency needs to be elevated.<ref>[http://internetcommerce.org/internetcommerce.org/NTIA_on_IANA_to_Wyden NTIA Actively Exploring Inclusion of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Provisions in IANA Contract]</ref>

==Award Receive from Electronic Frontier Foundation==

==Award Receive from Electronic Frontier Foundation==

On November 15, 2011, Sen. Wyden was one of the recipients of the Sen. Wyden was one of the recipients of the 20th Pioneer Awards from the [[EFF|Electronic Frontier Foundation]] in recognition for his continuous advocacy in promoting online privacy rights, freedom of speech and innovation. The foundation commended Wyden’s effort in adding '''Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act''', which provides immunity to internet service providers from liability when they voluntarily restrict customers responsible in publishing harmful or inappropriate materials. In addition, users or providers of contents from third parties will not considered as speakers or publishers. EFF also praised Wyden’s commitment in blocking the enactment of Protect IP Act, which aims to protect intellectual property rights but it will curtail freedom of speech, destroy innovation and the present internet architecture.<ref>[https://www.eff.org/awards/pioneer Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) 20th Annual Pioneer Awards]</ref>

On November 15, 2011, Sen. Wyden was one of the recipients of the 20th Pioneer Awards from the [[EFF|Electronic Frontier Foundation]], in recognition for his continuous advocacy in promoting online privacy rights, freedom of speech, and innovation. The foundation commended Wyden’s effort in adding Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides immunity to [[ISP]]s from liability related to restricting customers who publish harmful or inappropriate materials on the Internet. EFF also praised Wyden’s commitment to blocking the enactment of the Protect IP Act, which aims to protect intellectual property rights but curtail freedom of speech and destroy innovation and the present Internet architecture.<ref>[https://www.eff.org/awards/pioneer Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) 20th Annual Pioneer Awards]</ref>

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:People]]

[[Category:People]]