[PiggySmallz]

Originally Posted by Mach Stang ok this is just getting scary. Look at what the government is becoming, taking away our rights and freedom just to benefit there pay checks. Im ashamed to be an American

im not sure how sopa being passed would benefit their paychecks? As far as I know it would probably do the opposite, as it would slow the economy even more and make things worse. Also I'm not even worried about it, it can't possibly be passed. Please go look at the link I posted a few posts up. Even its author can't follow his own proposed law...

[Mach Stang]

yeah i get where your coming from, but there are some messed up politicans out there that will do anything to pass this bill

[serbiandude]

VOTE guys VOTE

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

[quadracer786]

ive already voted every where i could and emailed my states reps.

[iPAPKE]

Voted

[nicksranger01]

I voted and signed everything i possibly could, because i like my internet freedom

[WickedSnake00]

Originally Posted by PiggySmallz im not sure how sopa being passed would benefit their paychecks? As far as I know it would probably do the opposite, as it would slow the economy even more and make things worse. Also I'm not even worried about it, it can't possibly be passed. Please go look at the link I posted a few posts up. Even its author can't follow his own proposed law...

It's all about these lawmakers benefitting their own campaign funds.

Who supports the bill? Any company with any semblance of IP, such as most of the film and music industry. These are companies with big money. So what do they do? "Donate" large sums of money to the lawmakers to sway the vote. That's how these greedy pigs are in favor of a law that would strangle free speech as we know it. They put money over morals.

The lawmakers care about two things, and that's getting paid, and getting re-elected, which ultimately means getting paid again. If we can stir up enough outrage over this and make it unpopular enough, they might not pass the bill, because they'd rather get re-elected to take 2 more years of bribes, errr, "donations" than take a one time sum. They're greedy, but not stupid. Ok they're greedy AND stupid.

[XectriK]

Good morning. In less than a day, internet users from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest internet battle in the history of mankind. "Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Eighteenth of January, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from censorship. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Eighteenth of January will no longer be known as an regular day, but as the day the internet declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Internet Day!

I'm making that speech that I "pirated" go viral. Make it happen MM.

[XectriK]

The Day the Internet Fought Back : SOPA

upvote! Do it!

[98FireyGT!]

New email I got from Maria Cantwell

Dear Mr. Chris,



Thank you for contacting me about the internet streaming of copyrighted material. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.



On May 12, 2011, Senator Leahy (D-VT) introduced S. 968, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property (PROTECT IP) Act. Under current federal law, U.S. law enforcement officials and holders of copyrights, trademarks, and patents, have limited legal remedies available to combat internet websites that are registered in foreign countries but operate in the United States by selling products, services, and/or content that violates U.S. intellectual property law. If enacted, the proposed legislation would create an expedited process for the Department of Justice and intellectual property rights holders to shut down through a court order these websites by targeting the owners and operators of the Internet site, if known, or the domain name registrant associated with the Internet site.



While I am supportive of the goal of protecting intellectual property, I am deeply concerned that the definitions and the means by which the legislation seeks to accomplish these goals will have unintended consequences and hurt innovation, job creation, and threaten online speech and security. On November 17, 2011, I signed a letter along with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) objecting to the bill as it is currently written.



On December 17, 2011, Senator Wyden introduced the "Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade" (OPEN) Act (S. 2029), of which I am an original co-sponsor. The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, where it is currently awaiting further review. The OPEN Act is a more effective approach to stop foreign web sites that are found to be primarily and willfully used to infringe intellectual property rights. The OPEN Act builds on the existing legal framework used by the International Trade Commission (ITC) for addressing unfair acts in the importation of articles into the United States, or in their sale for importation, or sale within the United States after importation.



Our trade laws have yet to catch up to deal with the global digital economy. The OPEN Act recognizes that the Internet has created new opportunities for foreign products to reach the U.S. market and that there is little difference between downloading a pirated movie from a foreign website and importing a counterfeit movie DVD from a foreign company. For those foreign web sites that are determined after an investigation to be primarily and willfully infringing, the International Trade Commission will issue a "Cease and Desist" order. The "Cease and Desist" order may also be served on financial intermediaries that provide services to that foreign web site, compelling financial payment processors and online advertising providers to cease doing business with the foreign site in question. This would cut off financial incentives for this illegal activity and deter these unfair imports from reaching the U.S. market.



The OPEN Act addresses the same challenges as the PROTECT IP Act, while protecting freedom of speech, innovation, and security on the Internet. The challenge of rogue web sites is one that many nations face. The United States has always been seen as a leader on Internet issues. Laws we establish in the United States regarding the Internet are likely to be used as models around the world. And because the Internet is global in nature, it is important that we carefully consider how the laws and policies we adopt in this area may be received and translated by other countries.



The Protect IP Act was scheduled to go to the Senate floor for a procedural vote on January 23, 2011. Due to the effective grassroots advocacy and public outcry against the bill, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has pulled the proposed legislation from the floor calendar.



I appreciate Majority Leader Reid's decision to postpone a vote on the PROTECT IP Act. America's economy thrives on innovation and freedom of speech. We can't afford to rush an Internet policy that could trample on our innovation economy. The American people clearly spoke and their voices were heard. As we move forward, I'll continue to advocate for a policy that protects both creative content and online freedom of speech.

[nileppezdel77!]

Nice!

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by nileppezdel77! Nice!

Maybe.

The cynic in me says no matter how watered down the legislation is, it's still more legislation than there is currently, and the current legislation is more than adequate considering that it was sufficient to take down megaupload in the manner that was handled.

These bills are written by corporate lawyers who represent the MPAA/RIAA. They are of no benefit to anyone BUT the content distribution industry, who's trying to protect their bottom line through legislation rather than innovation. Fact of the matter is that their business model doesn't work anymore and they're sacred. No one needs a record industry to master or distribute music considering that anyone with a decent laptop, the right software (of which yes, there is free/open source that will work), and a decent internet connection can do so themselves. You don't need an industry to sort through the chaff when +1s and Likes from your friends do that crowdwise, and are much more likely to bring things that YOU actually like to your attention ("Dude, have you seen this vid on youtube?").

Yes, piracy bad. But stupid laws trying to prevent piracy rather than addressing it's actual cause are much, much worse.

[nileppezdel77!]

That was mostly a nice, as in, nice that she got back to him. Lamar Smith doesn't plan on editing the bill at all, he's just going to tack that baby onto something with a better chance of passing.

[WickedSnake00]

Originally Posted by nileppezdel77! That was mostly a nice, as in, nice that she got back to him. Lamar Smith doesn't plan on editing the bill at all, he's just going to tack that baby onto something with a better chance of passing.

...tack it onto the "free American flags for orphans" bill.

But you know they're just sitting on this until after the election, just like the Yukon XL pipeline. They know we have a short memory. Pass it right after the election, 2 years later no one will remember.

[nileppezdel77!]

Originally Posted by WickedSnake00 ...tack it onto the "free American flags for orphans" bill. But you know they're just sitting on this until after the election, just like the Yukon XL pipeline. They know we have a short memory. Pass it right after the election, 2 years later no one will remember.

Actually, it's the "Protect Children from Online Pornographers Act."

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/...r-good/242853/

[ReverendDexter]

Yep. "Think of the children!" is a horribly effective tactic. It's a shame people are so simple-minded as to fall for it, much like the "well you wouldn't be worried unless you have something to hide" ruse against privacy.