We can all name our favorite TV and movie stars.  They entertain us, help us unwind, and make us think. But could you name your favorite gaffer, lighting director, or catering crew? Probably not. The fact is that these individuals and small businesses are critical for the production of motion pictures, TV series, documentaries, and many other creative products we take for granted. In short, without them, we wouldn’t have the reprieve from the daily grind that we value so much. 

But the operators of rogue websites–those websites that profit off others’ innovative and creative products–don’t care about all that.  They are quite happy to let others expend their time and money to generate creative content, and then steal that content and sell it for purely illicit profit.  Of course, if those who actually do the work can’t make a living from it, we won’t be able to continue enjoying those motion pictures and TV shows.  Which is exactly why it is essential to protect the U.S. marketplace from rogue sites. 

DVDCollects.com offered the latest film releases and TV series for prices significantly below market value, almost too good to be true, because that’s exactly what it is. DVDCollects.com was seized in November 2010 as part of U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s (ICE) Operation In Our Sites. The seizure was timed to coincide with “Cyber Monday,” one of the largest online shopping day of the year, the operation targeted online retailers of counterfeit goods, including those that sold illegal copies of copyrighted DVD boxed sets, music and software. 

Many rogue sites are operated outside the United States and beyond the jurisdiction of our law enforcement authorities.  The PROTECT IP Act would help cut rogue websites off from the U.S. marketplace and protect honest hard-working Americans. The motion picture and television industry is a nationwide network of more than 95,000 businesses Contrary to popular perception, these are largely small businesses that cannot easily absorb losses from piracy: 93% employ fewer than 10 people. Cutting off rogue sites is about protecting American jobs, American small businesses, and American creativity.