DEFEND IP Act
Term Dictionary
If you come across any unfamiliar words while reading, these resources can help make everything clearer. Pick whichever one works best for you!
- Congress.gov Legislative Glossary - Comprehensive congressional terms
- NVFC Congressional Terms Glossary - Concise, easy-to-understand definitions
The gist
The DEFEND IP Act lets copyright owners ask federal courts to label foreign websites as piracy sites and order U.S. internet providers to block them.
Who wins, who loses
- Wins: Hollywood studios, record labels, sports leagues, and streaming services losing money to overseas piracy sites.
- Loses: users of piracy sites, foreign site operators, and digital rights groups worried about internet censorship.
What it does
- Creates a new Section 502A of copyright law for court-ordered site blocking.
- Applies to broadband providers with 50,000+ subscribers and large Domain Name System (DNS) services earning over $100M yearly.
- Exempts Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), encrypted DNS, and public Wi-Fi spots like cafes.
- Blocking orders last 1 year, renewable; providers get immunity for good-faith compliance.
Why should I care?
Supporters say foreign pirate sites steal billions and hurt creators who cannot sue operators hiding abroad. Critics warn this revives 2012's defeated Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), risks over-blocking legal sites, and sets a censorship precedent. Teens who stream sports, anime, or music through sketchy sites could suddenly find them blocked. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.