YNOT – After careful study of the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act now pending before the U.S. Congress, adult industry trade group Free Speech Coalition on Monday sent a letter outlining the industry’s position to the House and Senate judiciary committees.

SOPA, introduced by U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), proposes strict regulation of the internet in an effort to curb online piracy and other cyber-crimes. The bill has been endorsed by mainstream entertainment companies and trade organizations because it proposes monitoring, prosecuting and penalizing “rogue” websites and users that illegally download content.

Many internet companies and free-internet activist organizations oppose SOPA, which they fear would allow governmental regulators overly broad jurisdiction over the internet. Such legislation, they opine, may lead to censorship and potential violations of user privacy, among other issues.

“FSC supports aggressive action to stop online piracy and is in favor of some of the components contained in Rep. Smith’s proposed legislation,” FSC Executive Director Diane Duke said. “However, FSC is concerned that some of the provisions contained in SOPA may lay the groundwork to abolish legitimate online businesses by oppressive governments wishing to suppress unpopular content, overzealous competitors wishing to squelch competition and extremist organizations wishing to promote censorship.”

Included with the letter to representatives is an FSC position statement about SOPA, which may be viewed on the FSC blog.

The adult entertainment industry has been especially hard hit by content piracy, but it also has suffered from governmental regulations that have had a chilling effect on adult businesses, Duke said. On the whole, the FSC and its members applaud legislation that would protect intellectual property rights.

However, FSC has suggested issues created by any far-reaching regulations that may allow censorship, limit controversial forms of expression or encourage overly broad prosecution of online businesses should be taken into consideration by representatives. FSC encouraged legislators to examine closely any proposed regulations that may burden legitimate online businesses or violate the rights of internet users.

FSC also mentioned its successful Anti-Piracy Action Program as a prospective model for effective strategies that protect both content producers and tube site operators. Several large adult content producers and tube site operators participate in FSC-APAP, which uses advanced technology to monitor infringing activity and creates new revenue streams for participants.

For more information about FSC, visit FreeSpeechCoalition.com, email Duke or call 818-348-9373.