SOPA Policy

Westhost SOPA Policy

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a bill that proposes to expand the legal authority of US law enforcement and copyright holders. While the bill is well intentioned, we have taken the official position that we will not support SOPA as it has been currently proposed.

The UK2 Group fully supports protecting intellectual property rights; however, we believe SOPA would ultimately undermine its intended purpose through an over-reach and abuse of power. Furthermore, we feel that SOPA infringes on US citizens' First Amendment rights and will hinder the growth and power of the Internet. More specifically, it will have a negative impact on sites that host user content, which today encompasses a broad range of growing Internet businesses. Enacting SOPA would ultimately encourage businesses to move offshore to avoid lawsuits filed in the US. This would have a negative impact on businesses globally by limiting internet job growth through legal restrictions and excessive burdens. This law would expose businesses to open-ended liability. SOPA would override current law—the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA); DMCA includes language that outlines the "safe harbor" provision. Moreover, SOPA will give additional power to judges and shift the burden of proof from the accuser to the accused.

In an effort to protect our rights as a business and those clients who host with us, we are not supporting SOPA as it has been proposed. We do emphasize, however, that we are very serious about protecting intellectual property rights and will continue to adhere to the law and follow the legal process to address any complaints or concerns. We encourage our clients to learn more about SOPA and the impact it could have on your business.

Last Updated: 08/20/16