Should the federal government regulate the internet to deter online piracy?

Not at this point.

Go after spammers and hackers. Allow individuals to limit access. Block all viruses at the source. Stop illegal piracy but do it without invading privacy.

yes, but only if it doesn't impact net neutrality

Yes but to a certain point. Freedom of speech and information flow should be enforced and take priority over reduction of piracy. However consumers need protection from unfair lawsuits - it is very difficult to combat a company that spends millions on legal fees

Copyright enforcement reform is necessary, but cannot be simplified to a question of more regulation or less.

There is no such thing as intellectual property, one can not "steal" an idea because theft means the the "owner" is left with nothing.

only allow the gov't to block sites that sell pirated products

banana sandwiches

Yes, but it should be limited.

Limited control

No more than it does already; existing intellectual property laws suffice

The government should be given enough power to find and shut down piracy sites but no more than that. This is not a totalitarianist country.

No, but the penalty for piracy should be more severe

Yes, but be careful not to give the government the power of censorship. SOPA goes too far.

Leave it to the industries to alert the government of the piracy and enforce the current laws already in place.

Yes, but limit intervention to only piracy, supported with massive fines

Protect copy rights

The government should help deter piracy but should not be the regulators of the Internet. Leave that up to the ISPs and hosting companies to battle.

The government should investigate piracy through the internet of Federally copyrighted and trademarked products and services that fall under Federal laws and take action if empirical evidence supports such action

Yes, but the laws must be very specific to prevent abuse.

Yes but with privacy limits and less strict copyright laws.

No, but there should be serious regulation of content. Online pornography should be ABOLISHED. It is just a form of sexual abuse.

Government has authority to protect private property of individuals as long as it dosen't infringe on individual liberties.

Yes, because online piracy in an interstate commerce issue.

No, because attempting to do so is futile.

Something needs to be done to deter piracy which is little better then theft but the Federal government regulating it is an invitation for disaster.

Yes. But by doing so, they should not remove the freedoms people have now. Punish the pirates for what they do. Don't punish everyone for the actions of a few.

No, tougher penalties enacted for convicted pirates to deter future activities. I support Forced labor camps or the death penalty for internet criminals and identity thieves.

DISALLOW both Government regulation of the Internet AND the granting of Copyrights!

should police for child predators, identity thieves, and fraud only.

They should create better legislation, safeguards and cyber-security measures to fight piracy and other crimes.

Hire private internet security firms to servey internet threats

Gov't should only regulate to defend against foreign entities pirating intellectual property

STOP #ACTA

Depends entirely on the circumstances.

Measured regulation that mirrors prevailing laws related to non-internet policies.

Enforde current copyright laws, etc.

The ONLY reason for the government to regulate the internet is to deter fraud, piracy and any activity which is dangerous to the well-being to the citizenry.

allow capitalism to create alternatives to piracy

Yes, but only if the regulations can be done in a manner that doesn't disrupt normal business practices excessively or result in profit loss for the companies affected.

Yes, but only if the government can do so in a manner that doesn't excessively disrupt business or result in profit loss for companies that are affected.

Find way to deter piracy that doesn't infringe on rights of everyday users

Privacy violations are a crime now. We don't need more laws.

No. Reform copyright -- and patent law as well -- over a relatively short period, but long enough for new business models to replace the current system primarily operated to enrich lawyers and managers who have no role themselves in creative production. Such reform would also eliminate artificial barriers to entry which largely protect large, entrenched interests at the expense of the "little guy" copyright and patents are touted as protecting.

yes, but no jail time for first offense.

No, Crimes are crimes whether they are online or not. Theft, Copyright infringement are current crimes whether online or not.

No, but I need more information. The electorate should direct the our government within the laws of the US Constitution

Yes, but not to the extent that it threatens well-established websites.

Is there not already laws that prohibit piracy??

The government needs to be much more alert to having their own systems hacked.

The government should find ways to deter online piracy that do not involve significant regulation of the internet.

The only thing that should be regulated is child pornography, snuff movies. Feds have more than enough on their plates, don't you think? And Congress and most judges do not even understand computers and the 'net well enough to regulate. Government needs to be concerned about our energy grid otherwise regulating the 'net will be a moot point.

Only to stop criminal activity.

this does not pass muster as applied to the 10th Amendment, nor does it qualify under the Commerce Clause, because internet sales can be conducted outside the United States and is therfore international sales. you must be American to have American laws and protections apply.

There should be some fed regulation, but limited to obvious theft

Yes, but with very clear restrictions as to the reach of government regulations.

I think the government needs to but out altogether

Government should stay out. let the plaintiff use the judicial system for redress of grievances.

Yes, with limited power.

No, and copyright law in general should be reformed to be less biased toward rightsholders.

Online piracy needs to be addressed jointly by the government and private sector where appropriate.

It already has specified powers to go after copyright and intellectual property threat, no new powers are needed.

Yes, the federal governments job is to enforce contracts and prosecute fraud

..again how much is too much.?

again- how much 'Big Brother' is too much..?

less government is always best

No, though laws regarding theft of intellectual property should be made tougher, and technology enhancements to prevent piracy encouraged. With the entertainment and other industries constantly getting more tech savvy, I'm sure that technology can be developed to encourage all parties to agree.

yes only where commercial level piracy is proven

yes, but only in order to find 'terrorists', users of child pornografi, and so on

No. This problem already has a solution. it is called "Litigation"!

We all take advantage of it, but intellectual property, like music, movies, and books, is property and as such should be protected, even on the internet. Having said that, some mechanism must be in place to prevent the infringement of freedom of speech.

Yes, BUT ONLY RE: PIRACY.

No, but give limited regulation over certain areas, and include stricter laws with "freedom of the press, freedom of speech" when it pertains to matters of national security.

Only when national security is at risk!

No, and enact legislation preventing any level of government policing the internet. However it should be law that anyone who uses the internet must use their true identity, no aliases.

Only in the case of terroist drug cartel activity. They should be able to monitor that kind of information. Other than that no and no taxation.

No to regulation, yes to enforcing copy write laws and protecting intellectual property.

keep at the state level

No, but make it easier for victims of internet crime/intellectual property theft to make their cases and mitigate damages while their cases are being reviewed.

The laws that we already have should be used to catch criminals on the internet

HAVE SOME CONTROL. iT MUST HAVE RECORDS OF WHO USES THE INFORMATION AND HARSH PENALTIES FOR MISUSED BY ANY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL.

No. But punish those caught doing it.

Property rights should be protected.

The government should be able to interviene on suspision of illegal or imoral activity

Any laws that apply to free speech in other public areas should apply to the internet.

how Did You Feel when other Country's stopped ther internet ? NO

Police it to deter piracy; not regulate it.

Government NO Piracy NO

Yes but with very strict limitations to what they can regulate.

Once again I support free market. May the best company win!

To some extent

Yes, but keep the government from invading personal privacy of the innocent consumer.

No, we already have entirely too much government, adding another agency adds more taxes, more fraud, more corruption

Strike a balance between protecting privacy and protecting Intellectual Property. Both are legitimate interests.

security should be the gov't only concern. commerse should be minimally regulated

Leave copyright enforcement to civil suits and courts; keep government control away from the Internet, other than laws to ensure open access.

It is a natural right for me to be able to communicate with those with whom I choose to communicate. If something is stolen through the use of the internet, there are methods in place for redress. Theft is illegal. There are laws against such, and should be enforced by the local police where the act took place. If someone uploads my movie or song or whatever, without my permission, then I have been damaged. There are civil and criminal remedies already in place to address such actions.

Only for Convicted criminals

As is.

No, only to protect those who have been threatened or to what terrorism.