Sec. Clinton: No contradiction between Web freedom and IP rights

There is no incongruity between enforcing intellectual property rights online and protecting freedom of expression on the Web, according to a letter from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA).

"The State Department is strongly committed to advancing both Internet freedom and the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights on the Internet. Indeed the two priorities are consistent," Sec Clinton wrote Oct. 25. "There is no contradiction between intellectual property rights protection and enforcement of expression on the Internet," Sec Clinton said. Since taking office, she has been an outspoken critic of nations that censor the Web to suppress dissent, most notably with regard to the Arab Spring uprisings. Rep Berman wrote to Clinton in September asking her to affirm that U.S. foreign policy favors both Internet freedom and protecting copyright holders from digital piracy.