SOPA and PIPA

SOPA and PIPA: This is NOT about a new laundry detergent or the new british "royal".
This is about government intrusion, once again.

SOPA = Stop Online Piracy Act (Congressional measure)

PIPA = Protect IP Act (Senate bill)

First and foremost, whenever the United States Government says they are trying to help you should immediately be suspicious. The best way to assuage your suspicion is to find out who the bill sponsor is and then who the primary financial supporters (donors) are for that Senator or Congress person.

So let's start with SOPA. Sponsored by Lamar Smith (A self proclaimed rancher with apparently vast IT experience). The top donors for his 2012 reelection campaign are...may I have the envelope please...that't right movie, television and music industry corporations. You see corporations are now people and the government is of for and by the people. (you thought it was there to serve you...silly human)

As for the Senate version, sponsors include Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), as well as Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Some of the top contributors for these Senators are Time Warner, Disney and Comcast.

In other words, those really wanting this power are large corporations involved in the entertainment industry, both traditionally (TV, radio, declining CD sales and movies). You must always follow the money, always.

What is the power these people (corporations) want? They want the power to shut down "rogue"sites. Now what exactly is a "rogue" site? According to CNET and Senator Leahy "his proposal permits law enforcement to "crack down on rogue Web sites dedicated to the sale of infringing or counterfeit goods." The actual bill text, however, doesn't require that the piratical Web site sell anything--meaning, for example, if WikiLeaks were accused of primarily distributing copyrighted internal bank documents, access from the United States could be curbed.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was no less enthusiastic, calling the bill an "enhanced legal tool against 'rogue sites,' which steal American jobs and threaten consumers' health and safety." WARNING: Anytime you see the term, saving American jobs, or protecting American jobs, please note that is simply corporate lawyer code for P-R-O-F-I-T-S.

So how would this all work if enacted. Quite simply, we the corporation (people), would have the ability to ask the US Attorney General to seek a court order against the targeted offshore Web site that would, in turn, be served on Internet providers in an effort to make the target virtually disappear.

SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT SOPA? In a word, YES! Let's say you decide that you want to post a video from your favorite television show or a clip from a movie, to Facebook. You want your friends to see the clip. Under SOPA a copyright holder could shut down Facebook. Further, SOPA legislation also would make unauthorized streaming of copyrighted material (audio, video, images and such) a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison.

Supporters of SOPA say that the two examples I have just shown would not happen but the language of the bill is so broad we are being asked to TRUST the government. This is the same government that decried China's censoring of Google. The same government that cheered the Arab Spring and was falling over itself in regards to the use of social media by Libyans, Egyptians, Tunisians and others. Do you really trust the government (big corporations) to do the right thing?

We do not need another infringement on free speech and free distribution of ideas. There are already enough laws in this country to govern piracy and hold those accountable who bring real harm to people..

SOPA and PIPA are driven by and supported by corporations that are paying big bucks to have their voices heard. You need to make your voice heard as well. Contact your Senator or Congressional Representative and tell them that these bills must be stopped.

Many sites are talking about the "nuclear" option to send the message that SOPA must be stopped. They will be shutting down completely, a 100% blackout on January 18th. I urge you to join them and do not use the internet for anything on that day.

Should you care about SOPA?

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