Google may quit Chamber of Commerce

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Google and the Consumer Electronics Association are thinking about leaving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because of its support of anti-piracy legislation.

A source told Politico Google is "frustrated" by the chamber's position on the Stop Online Piracy bill. Yahoo! has already quit the chamber.

The chamber is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., includes a provision allowing businesses that believe they have been victims of trademark and copyright infringement to sue privately for court orders cutting sites off from ad networks and payment processors. The chamber has been lobbying hard for the bill, including setting up a Web site, FightOnlineTheft.com and bringing executives from content providers and the pharmaceutical industry to Washington.

The CEA says its members might be deluged with legal actions. Google, Yahoo! and other search engines would be required to cut off access to copyright infringers.