Internet Industry's opposition to SOPA and PIPA

You can't miss all of the internet hub-bub about the "Internet Industry's" opposition to SOPA and PIPA. Google and such indicate that Americans are opposed to this, but I think the average person doesn't know about or doesn't care about SOPA and PIPA.

I know here at POTN, people are very concerned about copyright protection.. So what do you think, does the legislation go too far?

On the surface, I am all for protecting copyrights and I am surprised that folks seem to be advocating for the right to ignore copyrights.. Maybe I don't really understand.

[Edit and Warning to those who comment on this thread] This topic is related to photography, it is about law and pending legislation; not politics. But, by it's very nature, it is teetering near the line of rule #6.

Please temper you comments, and don't cross the line.

check this out:

http://en.wikipedia.or​g …OPA_initiative/​Learn_more

SOPA and PIPA are a direct attack against a free and open internet, something which has driven innovation since it's conception. If you want our internet to turn into China's internet (rife with government censorship and takedowns) then SOPA is worth supporting.

mikekelley wrote in post #13725977
SOPA and PIPA are a direct attack against a free and open internet, something which has driven innovation since it's conception. If you want our internet to turn into China's internet (rife with government censorship and takedowns) then SOPA is worth supporting.

Exactly...

Like many "bad" things, the US already has laws and remedies that cover copyright infringement. Giving any group an "Off Switch" that they can throw on a whim or the jerk of a knee is not a viable solution.

Again, people have to be responsible for their own actions. Photographers must, must watermark and keep their material at a viewable but otherwise unusable size/resolution on the web.

Practice "Safe Posting!"

I love SOPA-PILLAS...

So the position that is being taken by the opponents of SOPA and PIPA is similar to that of the NRA: We don't need new laws, we need better enforcement of the existing laws.

hairy_moth wrote in post #13726209
So the position that is being taken by the opponents of SOPA and PIPA is similar to that of the NRA: We don't need new laws, we need better enforcement of the existing laws.

I wouldn't necessarily lump the two together, but yeah, that's pretty much the argument...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13726215
I wouldn't necessarily lump the two together, but yeah, that's pretty much the argument...

LOL

It is interesting, I noticed that groups opposing the law were both from the far right and left.

There are just some activities that you can't legislate pre-emptively... (sp?)

This is the only video you will need to watch.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=JhwuXNv8fJM

Note: Please don't avoid the video because of the 20+ minute timestamp. It's worth every second of your time.

To take action, go HERE.

I took my site down last night at midnight in opposition to the SOPA and PIPA bills.


This is just a bad law, plain and simple. We don't need new laws, we need to use the ones we have and refine and rework the ones we already have, to make them better.

I've always viewed digital anti-piracy laws the same way I view gun control. All these laws do is penalize the honest citizens, the scofflaws always find ways to circumvent the rules!

As photographers we want our products to be protected from unauthorized use, but are we willing to kill off all photo hosting sites like flickr, zenfolio, smugmug and 500px just to make sure that nobody posts any of our content on them? Because that's basically what these laws are about.

This is big money buying Congress, nothing more, nothing less. US debt is spiraling out of control and they find time to do this. Disgusting.

Site is down today as well. Reminds me of the old cable bill laws. If the US government is financially benefiting from this you can rest assured it will be passed.

www.jaymarroquin.com