History of the Internet Piracy Debate
Executive and Legislative Branch Actions
The Internet has become a central part of the American economy, delivering innovative products while eliminating the need for inefficient middlemen. However, the free flow of information facilitated by the Internet has also created problems with copyright and trademark infringement. The problem is significant; as much as 6 percent of the U.S. gross national product is generated by industries supported by intellectual property laws. A recent report contends that nearly 24 percent of all Internet traffic worldwide is infringing. Piracy of the content created by movie, music, and software companies, and counterfeiting of goods such as clothing, pharmaceutical drugs, and…
