Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act

What Does Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act Mean?

The Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade (OPEN) Act is pending legislation introduced in the aftermath of the controversial PROTECT IP (PIPA) and Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) bills, which were tabled due to widespread opposition on January 18, 2012.

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Based on the premise that an open Internet is critical to economic and job recovery in the U.S., the OPEN Act was designed as an alternative to the more restrictive SOPA and PIPA.

Techopedia Explains Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act

The OPEN Act was introduced to Congress by Republican Senator Ron Wyden on December 17, 2011. On January 18, 2012, the Senate version of the bill was introduced by Republican Congressman Darrell Issa. Currently, the Senate version is with the Finance Committee. The House version was referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Supporters of the OPEN Act contend that it would combat the unauthorized sale of digital works by protecting creative ownership, freedom of speech and security on an open Web through the use of International Trade Commission (ITC) laws and expertise geared toward fighting unauthorized digital goods from infringers outside of U.S. borders.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…