Rep. Smith defends anti-piracy bill

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) - The author of the anti-Internet piracy legislation that sparked a worldwide wave of online protests Wednesday said the measure is being misrepresented by its critics.

"The purpose of the Stop Online Piracy act, quite frankly, is to try to stop foreign websites from illegally stealing our technology, our inventions and our products, from intellectual property, music, medicine, auto parts, even to baby food," U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas told KXAN-TV in Austin.

Smith, a San Antonio Republican, said online piracy is "a $100 million-a-year problem."

he said the measure which was pulled from Congress' agenda on Wednesday only targets foreign websites that engage in illegal activity. Domestic sites would not be affected, he said.

"We have made refinements to the legislation to make sure domestic websites are not covered," Smith said. "I don't believe any opponent to the bill can point to any language in the bill that would target domestic websites."

Smith said that even if his legislation is derailed, the problem of online piracy will not disappear.

"I challenge these companies," he said. "If they have an idea how we could reduce this huge problem of online piracy, what are their ideas to reduce it. If we can improve the bill we will, but so far I haven't heard any specific substantive suggestions."