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Since the defeat of the Stop Online Piracy Act, better known as Sopa, congresswoman Judy Chu has intensified her efforts to eradicate piracy. To succeed, Chu and her allies in the entertainment industry need to win the public back. The aggressive opposition of Wikipedia and Google, two major proponents of a free and open Internet, helped sink the bill Chu co-sponsored. They propagated the idea that Sopa would end the Internet as we know it. “The American public doesn’t understand the consequences to piracy,” Chu told TheWrap. “There are large segments of it that even think it’s okay.

Last year Google changed its search algorithm in a way that was supposed to demote the rankings of Web sites that had been identified as persistent copyright violators. But there’s “no evidence” that the change has affected search-driven traffic to the sites, the MPAA says today based on a study it commissioned to follow up on the matter. “The share of referral traffic from Google to infringing sites included in the Google Transparency Report remained flat in the three months following Google’s implementation of the change last August.” This is important, MPAA chief Chris Dodd says, because search engines “bear responsibility for introducing people to infringing content — even people who aren’t actively looking for it.” Research firm Compete Inc. studied how many Internet users accessed URLs of 12M film and TV content sites that had hosted infringing content from 2010 to 2012, but not P2P sites or applications.

The creative community has a new voice in Washington. Rep. Judy Chu (D-ca) and Rep. Howard Coble (R-nc) have launched the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus, which aims to educate Congress and the public “about the importance of preserving and protecting the rights of the creative community in the U.S.” Chu represents the 27th District in Los Angeles County, which accounts for nearly 140,000 jobs in the motion picture industry. Predicated on the relationship between American film, music, and software industry and the country’s economic health, the Crc seeks to promote and protect the “copyrights, human rights, First Amendment rights, and property rights” of artists and creators. In a statement today, the DGA voiced support for the new venture: ““We welcome the creation of the Creative Rights Caucus, as a significant recognition of the importance of the creative community to American innovation, culture and the economy. The works created by DGA members – the films,...

Former "Star Trek" actor George Takei is helping Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) prosper in Hawaii's U.S. Senate race by donating $500 to her campaign in the most recent fundraising period.

The Honolulu Civil Beat first reported on Takei's donation. Hirono also received support from Microsoft founder Bill Gates, actress and singer Barbra Streisand and a Washington, D.C.-based consultant named Linda A. Lingle.

Coincidentally, Hirono's Gop competitor for the open Senate seat is former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle (not the same person). Lingle received donations from former Sens. John Danforth (R-Mo.) and Phil Gramm (R-Texas), as well as several members of the Marriott family.

Lingle also received $1,000 from conservative businessman Foster Friess, who bankrolled the pro-Rick Santorum super Pac. In February, he faced criticism for suggesting that women should just put a "Bayer Aspirin" between their knees as a form of contraception.

Hirono is competing against Rep. Ed Case...

HollywoodNews.com: Actor Wilmer Valderrama has been honored with the Chci Service Award for his service as the official spokesperson for Chci’s Ready to Lead (R2L) college readiness program that helps Latino high school students enter post-secondary education.

Valderrama also announced the extension of his partnership with Chci as the R2L spokesperson through December 2012. Since April 2009, Valderrama has appeared at workshops around the country sharing his life story of achieving the American dream and inspiring youth to pursue their own dreams through higher education. Valderrama has also filmed several public service announcements for Chci.

“This has been some of the most rewarding work I have ever done,” said Valderrama. “It is crucial that we embrace the youth of today for the future of America. When I tell them they can, that’s all they need.”

More than 150 Chci alumni, supporters and board members were in attendance to...

Opponents of the merger between Comcast and NBC Universal fear being blacklisted if they speak their minds.

So argues U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who made the charge Monday during a House Judiciary hearing that focused on whether the proposed merger would lead to more, or less, ethnic diversity in the entertainment industry.

The outspoken California Democrat also insinuated that someone representing Comcast inquired about making certain political donations in exchange for her support of the merger.

Asked by The Hollywood Reporter for names and other details about both of her accusations, Waters demurred. "Let's not go there," she said.

But during the public hearing, Waters noted that some scheduled to testify Monday bowed out at the last minute, fearful of retribution.

"It is somewhat troublesome that many independent and minority programmers, producers, writers and directors have been afraid to voice their concerns for fear of blacklisting or other forms of retaliation,...