Several senators on Thursday revived legislation that would allow the U.S. government to go after "rogue Web sites" that contain infringing content.
The Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property (PROTECT IP) Act would allow the government to get court orders that would require ISPs, search engines, ad networks, and online payment processors to stop supporting sites with pirated content. Comcast couldn't direct traffic to these sites, for example, nor could Google include links in its search results to an infringing site.
"The PROTECT IP Act targets the most egregious actors, and is an important first step to putting a stop to online piracy and sale of counterfeit goods," Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat and one of the bill's sponsors, said in a statement.
"With this legislation, we are sending a strong message to those selling or distributing counterfeit goods online that the United States will strongly protect its intellectual property rights," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican and bill co-sponsor. "Just because it's on the Internet doesn't mean it's free. Fake pharmaceuticals threaten people's lives. Stolen movies, music, and other products put many out of work."
more -
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385307,00.asp