Epic says it does not "support the current version of SOPA"

Epic Games has stated it does not support the current version of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), a bill drafted by Texas Republican Representative Lamar Smith and 12 co-sponsors.

According to a statement released on its forums, Epic PR manager Dana Cowley wrote: "We do not support the current version of SOPA. We are members of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a trade organization that is working with legislators to refine the bill.

"Epic Games supports efforts that would stop overseas websites profiting from pirating our games, but we have to do that in a way that's compatible with freedom of speech and due process of law," she said.

Epic is the first member of ESA to officially state it does not support the current version of SOPA, despite reports that EA, Nintendo, and Sony had dropped support of the bill. However, Microsoft, which is also a member of ESA, spoke out against the bill along with Adobe and Apple through the Business Software Alliance (BSA).

RPS as a running list of ESA members which support and do not support the bill through here.

Thanks, Joystiq.