The
PROTECT IP Act (
Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act, or
PIPA) was a
proposed law with the stated goal of giving the US government and copyright holders additional tools to curb access to "rogue websites dedicated to the sale of infringing or counterfeit goods", especially those registered outside the U.S. The bill was introduced on May 12, 2011, by Senator
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and 11 bipartisan co-sponsors. The
Congressional Budget Office estimated that implementation of the bill would cost the federal government $47 million through 2016, to cover enforcement costs and the hiring and training of 22 new special agents and 26 support staff. The
Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill, but Senator
Ron Wyden (D-OR) placed a
hold on it.