You know that roach we thought we all stepped on and flushed this month? Nope, still crawling around: SOPA hearings will resume next month.
Straight from the Judiciary horse’s mouth:
Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today said that he expects the Committee to continue its markup of the Stop Online Piracy Act in February.
Chairman Smith: “To enact legislation that protects consumers, businesses and jobs from foreign thieves who steal America’s intellectual property, we will continue to bring together industry representatives and Members to find ways to combat online piracy.
“Due to the Republican and Democratic retreats taking place over the next two weeks, markup of the Stop Online Piracy Act is expected to resume in February.
“I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to send a bipartisan bill to the White House that saves American jobs and protects intellectual property.”
We’ll have to see how SOPA’s backers manoeuvre around the White House’s opposition to the bill — unless it’s modified, it’ll get a big fat veto.
Looks like those blackouts tomorrow will mean something after all. [House of Representatives]