On Wednesday, April 16, 2011, the Senate Judiciary will hold a hearing titled “Promoting Investment and Protecting Commerce Online: Legitimate Sites v. Parasites, Part II.”  This is the second in a series of hearings held by Chairman Patrick Leahy, who introduced last year’s Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act.  (Notes from the first hearing are here.)  Sen. Leahy has promised to introduce similar legislation this year, after receiving more input. Witnesses from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Google, GoDaddy, and Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP will testify at the April 16 hearing, and their prepared statements will be available here.

Yesterday, Sen. Leahy appeared at a joint press conference with other Senators, Representatives, and business and labor leaders to highlight the need for action on this issue.  His office’s press release is here.