HR 10364: American Copyright Protection Act of 2026

HR 10364 in plain English: This bill would amend U.S. copyright law to establish or modify a legal process related to copyright protection, including a cap on monetary awards available through a specific motion at $250,000.

Stated purpose

The bill aims to create a legal process allowing copyright owners to ask U.S. courts to order internet service providers to block Americans' access to foreign websites engaged in copyright piracy. It establishes procedures for identifying such sites and enforcing those blocking orders.

Key points

• Caps monetary awards at $250,000 for a specific type of copyright motion
• Requires the movant to show the copyright owner caused an error to qualify for the award

Arguments supporters make

• Foreign piracy sites operate outside U.S. law and steal revenue from American creators and industries; blocking access is one of the few practical tools available against them.
• The bill requires a court finding based on evidence before any blocking order is issued, providing a legal check against misuse.
• Many other countries already use site-blocking to protect copyright, and the U.S. falls behind in defending its creative industries internationally.

Arguments opponents make

• Site blocking can be technically overbroad, accidentally cutting off access to legitimate content hosted on the same domain or IP address as infringing material.
• Requiring large internet service providers to block specific sites sets a precedent for government-directed internet filtering that could be expanded or abused in the future.
• Determined users can easily bypass blocks using VPNs or alternate DNS, so the law may burden service providers while doing little to actually reduce piracy.

Tradeoffs

Strengthening enforcement against foreign copyright theft may come at the cost of a more open internet, since blocking orders require U.S. infrastructure providers to restrict what content their users can reach. The bill tries to balance copyright protection with due process through court oversight, but that balance may be seen differently by those who prioritize creator rights versus those who prioritize free access to information.

Current status in Congress: In committee.

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