SOPA/PIPA
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:34 pm
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This is really one of the most egregious attacks on the fundamental structure of the internet we have ever seen. It gives the power to companies, not just the government, to force sites to justify themselves (and even shut down until they do). Any website that uses anything that anyone sees as an attack on a copywritten material has the power to force sites out of existence. This includes amateur covers (though I don't like him, people like Justin Beber who were discovered in this manner could have never existed), machinima (RvB), and those using IP in non-commercial means (such as Moviebob's big picture on the escapistmagazine). Small websites can be easily pushed out of operation and this also is a tool ripe for abuse against smaller competitors to large domestic businesses. IP is important, and something has to be done about a lawless internet, but this law is going about it completely the wrong manner. It sets a horrible prescient on how the internet is to be policed and represents a grave threat to the freedom and creativity that the internet has fostered.
Please, contact your representatives and senators to and do something about it. Democracy doesn't work unless the people put themselves forth and do something, apathy or inaction only fosters further actions without your consent.
Oregon's senators:
http://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
http://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
This is really one of the most egregious attacks on the fundamental structure of the internet we have ever seen. It gives the power to companies, not just the government, to force sites to justify themselves (and even shut down until they do). Any website that uses anything that anyone sees as an attack on a copywritten material has the power to force sites out of existence. This includes amateur covers (though I don't like him, people like Justin Beber who were discovered in this manner could have never existed), machinima (RvB), and those using IP in non-commercial means (such as Moviebob's big picture on the escapistmagazine). Small websites can be easily pushed out of operation and this also is a tool ripe for abuse against smaller competitors to large domestic businesses. IP is important, and something has to be done about a lawless internet, but this law is going about it completely the wrong manner. It sets a horrible prescient on how the internet is to be policed and represents a grave threat to the freedom and creativity that the internet has fostered.
Please, contact your representatives and senators to and do something about it. Democracy doesn't work unless the people put themselves forth and do something, apathy or inaction only fosters further actions without your consent.
Oregon's senators:
http://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
http://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/