Tillis Releases Text for Bill Targeting Illegal Commercial Streaming

Senate Intellectual Property Subcommittee Chairman Thom Tillis, R-N.C., introduced bipartisan legislative text Thursday that would subject “large-scale criminal streaming services” to felonies. The Protecting Lawful Streaming Act wouldn’t apply to “normal practices by online service providers, good-faith business disputes, noncommercial activities, or in any way impact individuals who access pirated streams or unwittingly stream unauthorized copies of copyrighted works,” said Tillis. Co-sponsors include Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn; Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; John Cornyn, R-Texas; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Chris Coons, D-Del.; Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga.; and David Perdue, R-Ga.