RIAA Applauds Congressional Action On Rouge Sites Bill

San Francisco, CA (Top40 Charts/ RIAA) - The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today unanimously approved bipartisan legislation (the Combating Online Infringement & Counterfeits Act) sponsored by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and 15 additional senators that aims to take action against foreign sites that prey on American consumers, manufacturers and creative industries by providing access to illegal content.

Mitch Bainwol, Chairman and CEO, RIAA, offered the following statement on the committee's overwhelming approval of the bill:

'We are proud to lend our voice to the chorus of supporters of this important bipartisan legislation. In a world where hackers and copyright thieves are able to take down websites, rip off American consumers and rake in huge profits operating rogue businesses built on the backs of the American creative community, the committee has taken a strong step toward fostering a more safe and secure online experience for consumers.

'With this first vote, Congress has begun to strike at the lifeline of foreign scam sites, while protecting free speech and boosting the legal online marketplace. We congratulate Chairman Leahy and Senator Hatch for their leadership on this bill and to the Senate Judiciary Committee for its action today.'