Senate Committee Approves Anti-Piracy Bill

backstage.com: "The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved legislation aimed at cracking down on Internet piracy. In a unanimous vote, the committee recommended that S.3804, known as the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, be considered and approved by the full Senate. The bill—introduced by committee chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)—would empower the Justice Department to monitor and shut down so-called rogue websites that make pirated content available to visitors. The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television Radio Artists were among four entertainment unions who issued a joint statement today praising the committee.