What is SOPA and PROTECT IP?

[Rayquaza]

This thread was suggested by StoppingTime and Ambrosia, I'm surprised there isn't one on it already!

SOPA: Sounds like a stupid name, I know. It's a stupid bill too. In fact, it's 'SOPAthetic'. If you don't know about it then you really ought to keep reading.

Have you wondered why today of all days, Wikipedia has blacked itself out? Or Wired.com? The answer? It's SOPA. Get ready to experience an internet with this web page:
http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff342/sandsrules/website.png

In a nutshell: The STOP ONLINE PIRACY ACT is a bill which is a proposed law with the stated goal of giving the US government and to change access to "rogue websites"

If SOPA passes, the US government can take down a website which can consider to be infringing material from multimedia industries. Sounds like it only affects America? Well, it doesn't. A lot of websites from outside the Jurisdiction can't be taken down. So what they will do instead is almost put a virtual barrier between America and other countries. This means that American websites can be sued, or that websites outside America are placed straight into a blacklisted database which will decline access to the website to people in America.

And what's PROTECT IP?
Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property.
This coincides with SOPA. They are pretty much more or less the same.

WHY DOES IT AFFECT US?
Well, let's be frank. It can take down any website. Yes, you read it correctly. Youtube can be taken down. Facebook can be taken down. Wikipedia can be taken down. That's right. One single piece of infringing material can take down an entire site. And it doesn't stop there.

The bigger picture:
The US government aren't just censoring and changing the internet, they are cutting off the human right to freedom of speech. Not only that, but they are also tampering with the basic structure of the internet. This will lead to unstability of the internet, less security and overall, an unhappier browsing experience.

If you still don't get it, this short film might help.
yDX8Lyl16Qs

Post a reply if you're against the act too!
And here https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/
Thanks for reading.

[kenoloor]

I'm completely against it; I really don't think I need to re-list all the reasons it's a horrible idea.

Also, you can sign Google's petition (https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/) against SOPA and PIPA if you haven't already.

[Gaybaby94]

Even though it is a bipartisan bill, it was a Republican that came up with the idea. It is completely stupid ( along with any form of censorship I.e. MPAA)

[StoppingTime]

Even though it is a bipartisan bill, it was a Republican that came up with the idea. It is completely stupid ( along with any form of censorship I.e. MPAA)

Does this really matter? *Looks at username*
Ohhhhhh..


OT:

I am completely against it, and find it ridiculous that, even though we are supposed to be protected by the Constitution with freedom of speech, this happens...
As Bradi said, I don't just want to repeat reasons, but yes, any website could be taken down at any time.

[Gaybaby94]

Does this really matter? *Looks at username*
Ohhhhhh..


Actually yes it does, the religious right has been known to advocate censorship, hence the MPAA. Watch "This Movie is Not Yet Rated". It is a documentary dealing with censorship in the movie industry, but it is basically similar to the Internet as well.

[StoppingTime]

Actually yes it does, the religious right has been known to advocate censorship, hence the MPAA. Watch "This Movie is Not Yet Rated". It is a documentary dealing with censorship in the movie industry, but it is basically similar to the Internet as well.

Back to bashing religion are we?

[Syvelocin]

Moving to Portland? Nope. Canada for me. (Or at this rate, might as well just go home :P)

Only two things really threaten me to move. The idea of Sarah Palin being in the white house and internet censorship.

Mmm. I'm quite confident though that even if this gets passed it can't be a lasting regulation. I just can't see them keeping it around with how much fire is going to be on the opposing side of the issue. There'll be protests beyond imagination. They'll have to revoke it sooner or later, that would be the logical way to do it. If they're sane individuals that is.

So of course I don't want it to happen, but I don't feel a huge threat at this point in time.

[Gaybaby94]

Back to bashing religion are we?

No, I'm just stating a fact.

[StoppingTime]

No, I'm just stating a fact.

The religious are behind it? Any one group in particular?

[kenoloor]

Even though it is a bipartisan bill, it was a Republican that came up with the idea. It is completely stupid ( along with any form of censorship I.e. MPAA)

Actually yes it does, the religious right has been known to advocate censorship, hence the MPAA. Watch "This Movie is Not Yet Rated". It is a documentary dealing with censorship in the movie industry, but it is basically similar to the Internet as well.

No, I'm just stating a fact.

For fuck's sake, will you give it a rest? Where this bill came from doesn't matter, the fact is that it's here and it's a goddamn problem. Blaming conservatives for every bad thing in politics (which you have a habit of doing) just makes you look stupid, uneducated, and most of all, ignorant.

[deadpie]

Anyone for SOPA and PIPA can do what the majority of well-informed humans and geeks of the internet want you to do; Take your computer back to where it belongs or fucking destroy it. You don't deserve it.

Even the man that created the idea of SOPA is a copyright violator. Source. (http://www.vice.com/read/lamar-smith-sopa-copyright-whoops)

[Gaybaby94]

For fuck's sake, will you give it a rest? Where this bill came from doesn't matter, the fact is that it's here and it's a goddamn problem. Blaming conservatives for every bad thing in politics (which you have a habit of doing) just makes you look stupid, uneducated, and most of all, ignorant.

Again, I'm stating a fact. Which party is known for advocating against same sex marriage? Which party is known for advocating against abortions or drug legalization. Which party is known for gun support or captial punishment. How about wars? And this economy? Spending increases during a conservative administration. they are against welfare, which would put thousands, including me, on the street and hungry. In a progressive world the republican] party is not helping this country move forward towards being better.

[AppealToReason]

SOPA, PIPA, NDAA, ect.
These things scare me...
Of course I'm against them.

[Genghis Khan]

Again, I'm stating a fact. Which party is known for advocating against same sex marriage? Which party is known for advocating against abortions or drug legalization. Which party is known for gun support or captial punishment. How about wars? And this economy? Spending increases during a conservative administration. they are against welfare, which would put thousands, including me, on the street and hungry. In a progressive world the republican] party is not helping this country move forward towards being better.

I think the primary focus should be on why this problem even exists and how we can possibly prevent it rather than pointing at the people advocating it and bashing the thesis of their belief system. Which is, from the little I've seen/heard about you, what you tend to do in most threads.

[TheMatrix]

Again, I'm stating a fact. Which party is known for advocating against same sex marriage? Which party is known for advocating against abortions or drug legalization. Which party is known for gun support or captial punishment. How about wars? And this economy? Spending increases during a conservative administration. they are against welfare, which would put thousands, including me, on the street and hungry. In a progressive world the republican] party is not helping this country move forward towards being better.
We are going to keep this on topic. Keep your side quarrels for another thread.
Thank you. :)