[98FireyGT!]

I wrote this up on Facebook but I don't think any of you are friends with me on there, so I thought I would throw it on here and share. I'd love to hear some of your guys' thoughts and opinions on this.

The primary idea behind SOPA is that the RIAA/MPAA (music and video industry) is losing what they see as potential profit because of the ability to freely download and stream whatever you want. SOPA would destroy that by making it impossible to get access to any media without paying a fee for it.

The internet, would in essence become similar to cable/satellite TV...your subscription would allow you to gain access to only the sites the ISP permits, so sites that have the approval of the corporations backing it would be fine, i.e., Netflix, the iTunes music store, and subscription based encyclopedia-type sites.

What SOPA will kill is sites like soundcloud, which lets people post music that the RIAA gains no money from, Wikipedia which publishers gain no money from, and YouTube, which the MPAA gains no money from save for the files they themselves have hosted and embedded ads in, as well as virtually every torrent host server and potentially image hosting websites.

This bill would also target Tor, which serves its users as a method of anonymous web browsing. Tor would enable users to gain access to websites that were blacklisted by the virtual American firewall that SOPA creates, but because it would be seen as a workaround, it would only be a matter of time before it was shut down.

The problem with just moving to Canada, is the majority of web servers are based in, or at least targeted at the US market. The wording in Section 103 says that, to be blacklisted, a Web site must be "directed" at the U.S. and also that the owner "has promoted" acts that can infringe copyright. This means that even without any kind of proof of copyright infringement the attorney general could issue warrants allowing police to seize servers and computer equipment that the government and its corporate allies do not support, based on alleged "promotion" of piracy, irrespective of the web servers physical address, only as long as the qualifying criteria of "direction and support" are met. The section goes further to attempt to explain what a "US directed" site is by stating:

(A) the Internet site is used to provide goods or services to users located in the United States;
(B) there is evidence that the Internet site or portion thereof is intended to offer or provide such goods and services (or) access to such goods and services (or) delivery of such goods and services to users located in the United States;
(C) the Internet site or portion thereof does not contain reasonable measures to prevent such goods and services from being obtained in or delivered to the United States; and
(D) any prices for goods and services are indicated or billed in the currency of the United States.

If you think about it, that is DAMN NEAR EVERY SITE, especially when factoring in that the US dollar is, for now, still the world currency. Many websites also offer international shipping, and of course, sell products or provide service to American consumers.

The grave reality of all this is that in Congress, approximately 1900 bills have been introduced into the Senate, yet only 18 other bills have enjoyed the same bi-partisan sponsorship that SOPA has. This puts SOPA in the TOP 1% of bills that have garnered congressional attention. So its big. Really big. Last month the House Judiciary committee met on SOPA, and it was clear that the SOPA supporters are commanding the majority of the representatives, and with all the money being slung around, its expected that the bill will pass when Congress meets on the 24th of January.

So now what? Well the internet as we know it today may very well be on its dying breath, but you can still fight to save it. Getting pissed off is great, but if you don't take action, it does no one any good. PopVox (https://www.popvox.com/) is one website that you can use for free to oppose the bill, but you can also call or email your representatives and tell them that you and millions of others won't stand for this. You can find the Senators contact information at U.S. Senate: Senators Home and the House's at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.

You can also call the congressional switchboard directly, which is at (202) 224-3121 for the Senate, and (202) 224-3121. When writing or speaking to a House member, remember to reference SOPA, H.R. 3261. If you’re speaking or writing to a Senator, reference PIPA, Bill S.968. Be polite and respectful, but firm in your stance that this is not acceptable and that it is in the best interest of the American people and the freedom of speech and press to oppose this bill, then thank them for listening to you. It's the only chance we've got to save what we all enjoy.

[98FireyGT!]

Lmao. Nobody gives a shit. Cool. When MM gets fucked with no lube, don't say I didn't warn you.

For what its worth, I actually sent out an email to Patty Murray, Cathy McMorris, and Maria Cantwell. A lot of it is derived from the post above, I'll throw it up here if anyone gives a shit.

May I have your attention please,

Soon you will be meeting to decide the fate of PIPA, Bill S.968/SOPA, H.R. 3261. It has been stated in various news and media outlets that the members of Congress do not have the education on the subject matter to make an informed vote as to the future of the bill, so I will attempt to briefly explain it in layman’s terms and the consequences and ramifications it will have on the internet if it is allowed to pass, and with all due respect, firmly demand as a Washington citizen that you oppose this bill.

The primary motivation behind SOPA is that the RIAA/MPAA (music and video industry) is losing what they see as potential profit because of the current ability to freely download and stream music and video that they could otherwise charge a fee to access and garner money from. SOPA would destroy that by making it impossible to get access to ANY media without paying a fee for it. A fee that does not put money in the pockets of the original authors, but of the recording studios and publishing companies that pushed the media into the mainstream.

The internet, would in essence become similar to cable/satellite TV...your subscription would allow you to gain access to only the sites the ISP permits, so websites that have the approval of the corporations backing it would be fine, i.e., Netflix, the iTunes music store, and subscription based encyclopedia-type sites.

What SOPA will kill is sites like soundcloud, which allows independent artists to host their musical productions for free, Wikipedia which serves as a free online encyclopedia with countless pages covering various topics, YouTube, which allows users to freely post videos of any subject. No longer would web users enjoy the free exchange of information that we currently have today. Everything would come at a price to be established by the corporations owning the website. Some people value and rely on this information so heavily, that they would go to measures such as moving to Canada and using the ISP’s in that country in order to escape the “American Firewall”.

The problem with just moving to Canada, is the majority of web servers are based in, or at least targeted at the US market. The wording in Section 103 says that, to be blacklisted, a Web site must be "directed" at the U.S. and also that the owner "has promoted" acts that can infringe copyright.

This means that even without any real of proof of copyright infringement the attorney general could issue warrants, allowing police to seize servers and computer equipment that the media corporations do not support, based on alleged "promotion" of piracy, irrespective of the web servers physical address, only as long as the qualifying criteria of "direction and support" are met. The section goes further to attempt to explain what a "US directed" site is by stating:

(A) the Internet site is used to provide goods or services to users located in the United States;
(B) there is evidence that the Internet site or portion thereof is intended to offer or provide such goods and services (or) access to such goods and services (or) delivery of such goods and services to users located in the United States;
(C) the Internet site or portion thereof does not contain reasonable measures to prevent such goods and services from being obtained in or delivered to the United States; and
(D) any prices for goods and services are indicated or billed in the currency of the United States.

If you think about it, that is vague enough to include NEARLY EVERY MAJOR WEBSITE, especially when factoring in that the US dollar is, for now, still the world currency. Many websites also offer international shipping, and of course, sell products or provide service to American consumers. This suddenly makes SOPA no longer a domestic issue, but an international one, with the potential to effectively ruin websites and businesses the world over. The ramifications of this are huge, in that if an American directive is given to shut down a foreign web server, it could very well cause political and economic tension in an already difficult climate.

And this is only the surface! In the 1990’s, with the boom in computers and internet access, the web exploded. Today in 2012, hundreds of thousands of businesses rely daily upon the internet to conduct business, what would happen to those businesses if suddenly they didn’t have the support of these big corporate players, and web users were no longer able to access their websites. That is an answer I can already provide you: they would die, effectively ending the livelihoods of millions of not just American citizens, but people all across the globe, forcing them to succumb to either unemployment or the long hard road of establishing a new career.

Another realm that SOPA would affect is that of education; schools and students use much, much more than just the big-name websites to conduct learning, and Bill S.968 would make it virtually impossible to explore the vast array of digital information, forcing academics back into the days before computers were a viable option for research, an option that is not under any terms acceptable in todays global digital age. This is not just citizens today that would be affected, but our children’s children, because if the United States were no longer able to enjoy the benefits the internet has heaped upon us, we will surely lose our position in the global sphere, and be passed by those countries who allow their citizens unrestrained access.

In closing, I hope that I have made PIPA, Bill S.968 a little clearer, and persuaded you to vote NO when it hits the floor later this month. I can assure you that as a Washington citizen, your opposition of this bill will garner you my vote towards your political career, but support it, and you have lost it forever.

With due regards,

Christopher Penchoen

Information Technology Student, Spokane Falls Community College

[AnotherS197GT]

I did the popvox thing, just didn't post that I did. Feel better?

[supermachone]

the first step for the government to control the only free media source we have left!

[98FireyGT!]

Yes S197. Your're the man. Reps.


edit: Bah I've loved you too much lately, someone get him for me.

[roosgt!]

Originally Posted by 98FireyGT! Yes S197. Your're the man. Reps. edit: Bah I've loved you too much lately, someone get him for me.

Got your back sexy

[AnotherS197GT]

Originally Posted by 98FireyGT! Yes S197. Your're the man. Reps. edit: Bah I've loved you too much lately, someone get him for me.

Its the thought that counts

[98FireyGT!]

Thanks Roos.

No one takes away my internet without me at least fist fucking them with my opinion about it first.

[roosgt!]

Originally Posted by 98FireyGT! Thanks Roos. No one takes away my internet without me at least fist fucking them with my opinion about it first.

Fuck yea!!!
Fight the power!

[AndrewsPony]

Have been watching this for weeks, our politicians do literally have no clue what they are voting on if you watched them talk about it. There is a few who know, but the majority has no fucking clue at all. It is pretty sad how they talk about something they have no clue. Thanks for bringing it here! Spread it!

[98FireyGT!]

I'm spreading it like its the herpe.

[Mach1dmb!]

I don't wanna pay for porn
I did the thing ^^

[98FireyGT!]

Thanks man, reps.

[98FireyGT!]

Originally Posted by Mach1dmb! I don't wanna pay for porn I did the thing ^^

edit: Can't rep you either, lol.

[WickedSnake00]

Originally Posted by AndrewsPony Have been watching this for weeks, our politicians do literally have no clue what they are voting on if you watched them talk about it. There is a few who know, but the majority has no fucking clue at all. It is pretty sad how they talk about something they have no clue.

Oh they know exactly what they're doing. After all this would mean that the big sites (iTunes, Amazon, etc...) would have a stranglehold on content on the internet. Just look how the clamped down on content on Youtube alone.

And why is that important? Because those big sites have the big money to pay for lobbiests to bribe congress. Who needs to know what's good and constitutional when they're getting paid off?

[Alamo Stang]

So...how can I help?

[Blak GT]

Thanks for showing me the popvox thing! I've been wanting a way to oppose this without writing a full blown letter... Cuz im lazy as shit. I'll use my tears as lube they day I have to start paying for Internet porn!

[98FireyGT!]

Write to your congressmen, use PopVox. I'm writing another version of my letter that I'm going to take to school and let anyone that supports it sign it then mailing it in.

[carney]

i used popvox

[JakeM]

Been watching this for a long time. Already hand signed a couple of petitions already that were to be sent to our state people.