Attorneys General Hood and McKenna urge Congress to take action against counterfeit Web sites

OLYMPIA – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood released a joint statement Wednesday applauding Congressional action to address online counterfeiting and piracy.

In a statement circulated at the House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Stop Online Piracy Act in Washington, DC, the attorneys general commended Congressman Lamar Smith and his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives for their ongoing commitment and leadership in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy on rogue websites.  At the same time, they urged Congress to consider concerns of leading companies to ensure the legislation addresses the problem without imposing undue burdens on legitimate, law-abiding companies. 

“The sale of counterfeit products and piracy of copyrighted content online not only undermines our nation’s economy, it robs state and local governments of much-needed tax revenue and jobs. Even worse, some counterfeit goods can pose serious health and safety hazards to consumers,” McKenna said. “Rogue-sites legislation seeks to clamp down on this scourge. We commend both the House of Representatives and the Senate for their leadership on this important issue and encourage them to work with leading Internet companies to ensure this legislation does not have unintended consequences for legitimate companies.”

“Rogue-sites legislation—such as the Senate’s PROTECT IP Act (S. 968) and the House of Representatives’ Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R. 3261)--propose measures that would enhance the tools available to fight rogue websites and the damages they cause,” Hood said. “We are encouraged by Congress’ commitment to combating rogue sites and creating a safer, more vibrant Internet marketplace for American consumers.”

McKenna is the current President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) and a past chair of the NAAG Intellectual Property Committee. Hood serves as the co-chair of the NAAG Intellectual Property Committee. Earlier this year, Hood and McKenna joined more than 40 other state attorneys general in a letter urging Congress to take action against rogue websites.

-30-

Contacts:
Janelle Guthrie, Director of Communications, (360) 586-0725