Metro Business asked Jeffrey Geiger, a lawyer with Sands Anderson and a member of the firm's intellectual property law team, how businesses could be affected by the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act:
"Recently, Google and Wikipedia protested federal legislation called the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act.
"The legislation moving through Congress aims to combat online pirating of copyrighted material, such as songs and movies.
"The acts, however, also introduce some heavy-handed infringement penalties that should catch the attention of business owners. Here's why:
"Sites like Facebook and Twitter could be shut down because users share links to songs. That shuts the door on small businesses that use social media for legitimate marketing and communication purposes.
"If your business website is found to host or link to copyrighted material, the government could disable online payment tools.
"And finally, the legislation makes your website liable if site visitors post copyrighted material.
"If you are in business, it is hard to argue against copyright protection, but SOPA and PIPA — as they are now — do not appear to be the best route forward for business owners or the economy they advance.
"So keep your eyes open. Copyright legislation will be making headlines again soon."
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