News Article: MasterCard willing to cut off pirate sites.
MasterCard, is willing to stop processing transactions from sites trafficking in pirated music, movies, games, and other digital copyrighted content. Lobbyists working for MasterCard have told trade groups from the entertainment sector that the credit card company is supportive of The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, an antipiracy bill introduced into the Senate last September, sources with knowledge of the talks tell CNET.
Backed by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and committee member Sen. Orin Hatch (R-Utah), the bill would authorize the Department of Justice to shut down domain names of U.S.-based Web sites judged to be dealing in pirated content and also have the power to order Internet service providers, payment processors, and online ad networks in the United States to cease doing business with overseas pirates sites.
Opponents of the law say it will give the government sweeping powers to censor U.S. citizens. Representatives from MasterCard, Visa, and American Express did not respond to interview requests.
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So on who's say-so does this shutdown action get taken on a site? don't get me wrong, I am all for stopping the piracy, but it worries me that this "power" could step onto some legitimate toes.
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