Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)

[YSSMAN]

"As written" is my understanding - don't think I want to find out what that means. It's sad though, you'd think that we could at least count on democrats for civil rights... think again. My representatives in the senate are both democrats and both are co-sponsors.

If I recall what the White House put down correctly, they want to create legislation that attempts to fight piracy in a way that does not essentially overturn the internet as we know it. I would say that in general, that's fair. Most of us who are against SOPA/PIPA are also against piracy to some extent.

RE: California

I'm surprised that Boxer and Feinstein have stuck with it this long. You've got Hollywood against Silicon Valley, and while I'm sure they don't want to pick a winner, I'd be putting my money behind those who are still relevant.

Up here in Michigan, both of my Democratic Senators are in favor of the bill as far as I can tell. I've pretty much given up on both after the NDAA fiasco. My Representative, Justin Amash (R - MI 3) has taken an active part in the fight against SOPA. I've disagreed with almost everything he has done since going into office with exception to this, and his fight against the NDAA.

Weird times, indeed.

 

[Schwartz]

Why is the government bothering and spending money with pointless stuff like SOPA instead of trying to fix more important issues in America? Oh wait, I know why! Many politicians have their own selfish agenda that involves their own money and power. The world is so ****ed up.

 

[AOS-]

The world is so ****ed up.

Welcome to reality.





You like this post.

 

[Alex p.]

SOPA was bound to happen in the US at some point under the current administration. Your statement regarding the "Elite" sounds a bit out there. The main reason behind SOPA (Or anything really), is money. The government simply wants the power to sue individuals for copy right infringement online. SOPA takes this power to the extreme.

It does, it does I know.

 

[McLaren]

It appears many of today's protest did "scare" many politicians to with-draw support, so there's good news.

The bad news is that the bill will rise once more. Again.
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/internet-revolt-follow/

Most important, amended proposals are likely to rear their ugly heads soon in response to White House criticism of the Domain Name System features of the bills.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) says he will bring an amended version of SOPA to the House Judiciary Committee sometime in “February.” And Senate action on an amended PIPA, either on the floor or before the Senate Judiciary Committee, is tentatively scheduled next week.

Smith is expected to bring his bill back next month while PIPA is still alive, unfortunately.

 

[Dmarc_Atl]

Wait, so why are companies like Google against SOPA? Or is it just companies that benefit from SOPA (Like an MP3 download site, which, if I'm not mistaken, used to promote illegal actions in regards to downloading copy righted material). Now I'm really confused.

http://theoriesofconspiracy.com/2011/11/list-of-major-companies-supporting-sopa.htm

284.Sony Electronics Inc.
285.Sony Music Entertainment
286.Sony Pictures Entertainment


Almost makes me want to throw away my PS3... then I rev my aventador and slap myself

 

[Dmarc_Atl]

http://mashable.com/2012/01/18/pipa-sopa-abandon-bill/
SOPA over but PIPA remains
http://mashable.com/2012/01/18/sopa-not-over/

 

[Joey D]

Then it should be stricken down by the Supreme Court.

Honestly if this thing passes congress it should get vetoed by the president (if he's a decent liberal). If it doesn't get vetoed by the president it should get declared unconstitutional by the supreme court. If that fails, our government screwed the pooch.

I think you're giving the government to much credit towards doing the right thing.

 

[Keef]

There are a couple problems with your chain of events, Danoff. First of all, President Obama is not a traditional liberal. Second of all, our Supreme Court Justices are not the most libertarian bunch of people I know. I'm not holding my breath. I have a feeling it will be up to the internet at large to band together (yeah, I know) and simply ignore Big Media and the government.

Of course, that probably won't happen either. If all else fails we could just start shooting people, right? Seems to work? Merica.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I think the idea behind SOPA is good; there's no denying online piracy is a problem. But the execution of it makes me think the entire thing was written by people who don't actually know what they're talking about - like if I wrote a bill about synchronised swimming. It's a complete mystery to me, and just because there is an underlying issue attached to it, that doesn't make me an expert on it. As someone in the Funny Picture Thread pointed out, the official website of the guy who wrote this bill in the first place is in violation of SOPA.

And SOPA was introduced entirely too late. If the internet could take physical form, it would probably be larger than planet earth. This is something that should have been addressed when the internet first began to expand outwardly. Then maybe it could have been done in a sensible manner. Because SOPA makes me think of the story about the boy who put his finger in the dyke to stop the flood. The difference is that Congress seem to think that the flood will not come when they pull their finger back out.

 

[Watt2159]

Some kid in class today said
"Take away our rights to be Unpatriotic, and we won't care, but take away our bootlegged movies and porn.......well now your asking for anarchy."
at first I 'ed
but then I
'ed.

 

[Dmarc_Atl]

Some kid in class today said
"Take away our rights to be Unpatriotic, and we won't care, but take away our bootlegged movies and porn.......well now your asking for anarchy."
at first I 'ed
but then I
'ed.

Yea its really sad.That bill had somewhat of an uproar but it was really done in secrecy and alot of people including myself didnt hear about it until after it was passed.

 

[ghsnu]

Well, I've just about given up hope for my state after finding out McCain is for it (I'm only 17 mind you, so I could care less about politics).

I just see this as one, big, unorganized mess. Them wanting everything that's copyrighted to be censored and have the site shut down...then they say they'll issue re-coryright license things. Seems like they're just pulling it out of their 🤬.

I see it as this: Bill gets passed, all hell breaks loose. YouTube, Wikipedia, and other sites that schools may rely on for teaching/info are shut down, causing only government sponsored sites () to remain - 100% correct info? Possibly. Fun as a good YouTube video? Hell no. Then, forums are shut down - now you must rely on yahoo answers or what's left of the Internet for your answers to questions...which is a 🤬 if it's a unique question. After that, your review sites for video games, etc. are shut down (yes, EA is supporting the bill...figures), forcing you to rely on your own experience of buying the product or asking friends what the product is like. News sites censored/shut down, forcing people to seek other ways to learn about current events (whoever said that conspiracy: I see where your going and can somewhat agree). The rest? Ether minor sites that managed to survive or die or a bunch of sites that aren't cared for by the majority Internet-ers. Oh, can't forget the riots - riots solve everything .

Yeah...fun? Nope. I see the point of the bill, but it causes more issues than what it fixes.

If they weren't so generic and were more specific on what would happen to certain sites like YouTube or GTPlanet (as well as not so harsh on the "rules"), I'm sure more people would be fine with it. If it was this:
-Website A has pirated video on it. Website A will be bombarded by government and sued/shut down.
-Website B has a little clip from a video...lets say May's famous flight in the Ariel Atom. Website B will not be effected by the bill.

Instead of this:
-Website A still shut down.
-Website B shut down too.

I'm sure more people would be a bit more comfortable. Not everyone likes to have their pepper spray cop or lolcats pictures blocked or removed from the Internet forever.


Mind you I'm only 17, so I'm not experienced with how the government works 100%. This is just what I think would happen. Oh, and this is copyrighted by me, see?------>(C)2012 ghsnu. Now GTP will die.







Just kidding. But seriously, the government is full of tight-:censored:es. Shuting down a site over something as simple as not blurring out the badge of a car?

 

[Pupik]

Notably absent is Microsoft...although Sony and Nintendo are for it.

Interesting that Ford Motor Company is for it, as well members of Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (essentially suppliers for the Big Three). Unless they are represented by other trade groups, I don't see other major auto manufacturers on the list. Harley-Davidson is for it, god forbid they aren't selling enough merchandise, they now need to charge you to hear the sound of a V-twin on YouTube.

Three of the four major sports leagues are for it: NBA, NFL, and MLB...the National Hockey League is notably absent, along with NASCAR. The PGA supports it, as well as the WWF. I find it interesting that they aren't on board; can't speak much for hockey, but NASCAR has seen its popularity increase alongside the timeline of the web's growth.

What makes little sense to me are the manufacturers and suppliers that would appear to stand to lose/gain nothing from this bill; my guess is that they have a tie-in with certain media companies that do support it, and would prefer to keep a happy relationship with them and their shareholders by agreement. I can't see how Callaway Golf is affected by any of this, for example, but perhaps because the PGA is for it, then...

I can understand how photographers, musicians/recoding artists, and advertising groups - both by trade association and independent - are for this bill. That doesn't mean I agree with them.

At the end of the day, when and if this all comes to pass, how in the heck will all the oversight be handled, policing be determined, court system manage the tremendous influx of cases to be brought to trial, paperwork be handled, and tubes be tied? I think this legislation will literally terminate itself due to stasis, except in very convenient cases whereby lots of money could stand to be gained in a short period of time...that said, we have a Digital Millennium Copyright Act, as well as other previous copyright and patent laws that do the same thing, but without the assumption of wrong-doing in the first place.

Mind you I'm only 17, so I'm not experienced with how the government works 100%. This is just what I think would happen. Oh, and this is copyrighted by me, see?------>(C)2012 ghsnu. Now GTP will die.

Actually, I just legally copied your work. So can anyone else on this site. But I'm not taking credit for it...although you own the rights to your unique statement, GTPlanet and it's members have the rights to re-distribute it within GTPlanet...

 

[astrosdude91]

If this get's passed, and I doubt it will, but if it does, this will be like our "18th Amendment". This will be what kids learn about in government classes 50 years from now. It's cool to say "I was there when it mattered".

"Wow Grandpa! You fought in the Great SOPA War?"

 

[ghsnu]

*snip snip*

I realize that, just trying to crack a joke on how friggin' strict the bill will possibly be .

I just question how the Internet will function with 85-95% of it gone or censored. More foreign domains now? More .gov/.org/.edu domains?


Off topic: tired of my iPod ALWAYS crashing on me. Open Safari, surf a bit, crash. Look up something, crash. Zoom in on a small picture, crash . iOS 5.0 was a bad idea.


Edit: lol@the Great SOPA War.

 

[YSSMAN]

Notably absent is Microsoft...although Sony and Nintendo are for it.

Microsoft was quietly fighting against it. It wasn't until the 17th that they came out totally, completely, and publicly about it.

 

[Keef]

Microsoft plays a somewhat different role in this game than Sony, say. Whereas Sony is primarily a Big Media copyright holder, the core of Microsoft's business, the operating system, is rather dependent on user-created content in order to be useful. Without the content, the internet obviously being the biggest source of content, then there's not much reason for an operating system to organize and browse it.

 

[White & Nerdy]

WAITWAITWAIT.

You could get shut down for not blurring out the logo of a car?

What are they going to do about the hundreds of people who see that same logo every day in real life? Make us wear special logo-blurring glasses?

What a farce.

OH MAN I JUST REMEMBERED SOMETHING! Some of you may know that I'm a huge conspiracy theorist. Like 2 or even 3 years ago I saw a youtube video of a group of young people (students of universities), which were really concerned and I instantly knew they were telling the truth, my intuition rarely lets me down on this.

So basically, what they were telling is that they were human rights activists and had many insiders they worked with. One of them leaked to them that it is the "Elites/Illuminatis" goal to extremly restrict the internet by the end of the year 2012, so that later on only rich people could afford it and so that only a few, by the Elite chosen, sites could be accessed through the internet, so that the people's only possibility to get news was to use television and news papers, which are controlled by them anyway. This is one major step in achieving a one world totalitarian government.

Also it's not the first time something seemingly unlikely has been predicted by "conspirasy theorists" in the last years, only to become reality in the next few years, damned...

That's quite frightening, and probably not too far out. Human nature is to grab for more money and power at every opportunity... if you had the chance to make all news depend on you, wouldn't you take it?

If nothing else, that means we've got a long fight ahead of us.

I've disagreed with and mocked just about everything Obama has said and done since entering office, but his promise to veto this is a singular bright spot. Still not enough to make me think highly of him.

Of course, who knows what "as written" means.

 

[axletramp]

Forgive me for coming to this late, but how does this affect countries other that the States? Websites hosted elsewhere surely aren't covered under US laws? How will this be enforced and managed globally?

 

[Tesla]

People within the U.S wouldn't be able to access those sites.

 

[RevoXeli]

Forgive me for coming to this late, but how does this affect countries other that the States? Websites hosted elsewhere surely aren't covered under US laws? How will this be enforced and managed globally?

"Implement sopa or else your country is a terrorist pirate country "


"ok ok"

 

[axletramp]

People within the U.S wouldn't be able to access those sites.

"Implement sopa or else your country is a terrorist pirate country "

So nothing will happen outside of the States apart from name calling? Cool, panic over.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

If this get's passed, and I doubt it will, but if it does, this will be like our "18th Amendment". This will be what kids learn about in government classes 50 years from now. It's cool to say "I was there when it mattered".

"Wow Grandpa! You fought in the Great SOPA War?"

"Yes, my child and my key board was on fire for days as I typed my fierce words!!!"

Sad the NDAA didn't get nearly this much attention along with other stuff going on.

Oh and of course Sony would support something like SOPA, considering it was a year ago that they had their servers brought down by hackers who weren't allowed to freely use a different operating system. (If I recall correctly.)

 

[nk4e]

Forgive me for coming to this late, but how does this affect countries other that the States? Websites hosted elsewhere surely aren't covered under US laws? How will this be enforced and managed globally?

I think it gives the American Government more power to arrest some one globally and be shipped to be trialed here stateside.

 

[axletramp]

I'd love to see them try and enforce that one in China, Russia and the African continent. It's going to be hard enough to implement and execute in more friendly places like Europe let alone anywhere else. I hope they've got a good legal budget set aside to potentially lose in red tape and stubborn foreign courts.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I'd love to see them try and enforce that one in China, Russia and the African continent. It's going to be hard enough to implement and execute in more friendly places like Europe let alone anywhere else. I hope they've got a good legal budget set aside to potentially lose in red tape and stubborn foreign courts.

China for sure already has a similar ban in place that if passed the U.S. would also be similar to.

Anyways this should help sum up your question
By granting the American DOJ and litigious copyright holders the right to hold websites, applications and service providers, like YouTube, Twitter and PayPal, responsible for their users’ actions, it is foreseeable that these targeted parties would respond by (a) further restricting and limiting the conditions for sharing content and/or (b) create more stringent guidelines for validating users’ identities.

Here's what the government can do to foreign websites under even the most narrow reading of SOPA section 102 and PIPA section 3:

1.Order internet service providers to alter their DNS servers from resolving the domain names of websites in foreign countries that host illegal copies of videos, songs, and photos.
2.Order search engines like Google to modify search results to exclude foreign websites that host illegally copied material.
3.Order payment providers like PayPal to shut down the payment accounts of foreign websites that host illegally copied material.
4.Order ad services like Google's AdSense to refuse any ads or payment from foreign sites that host illegally copied content.
(These rules don't apply to domains that end in .com, .net, and .org, which fall under US law — the government has been seizing US domains used for piracy since 2010, and just seized 150 domains last month.) Taken from TheVerge


or rather want to do.

Also a good majority of traffic comes from and is maintained by the U.S., so just because you're outside of the U.S. doesn't mean it wont have after shock like effects for you.

 

[the_stig_1]

Updated my avatar

 

[axletramp]

@LMSCorvetteGT2. Cheers. That's explained it a lot better. 👍

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

@LMSCorvetteGT2. Cheers. That's explained it a lot better. 👍

No problem.