Don't believe everything you read on the internet.
S.O.P.A is a horrendous infringement on the freedoms of American citizens. The fact is its a slippery slope. Many sites will be shut down if it passes and NOT just for piracy. Essentially any site that is deemed "unsavory" will be on the chopping block. This includes anti government comedy, questionable moral sites, even organizational sites for minority groups. Its a step towards fascism.
Wow. I'd suggest going to Wikipedia and reading about SOPA and the Protect IP Act (noting that Wikipedia is opposed to both acts, but gives an unbiased explanation). There actually is no power to shut down a website, rather the enforcement is to not have the website able to be found using search engines or to obtain funds using payment processors and that is only after a court order (or a failure to respond to an inquiry under SOPA).
There is absolutely nothing in the legislation that shuts down "unsavory" sites.
What is even more interesting is that neither piece of legislation applies to websites within the United States. Bet you didn't know that. Why? Because the existing U.S. copyright law can apply to those websites.
T11 very well could be effected and shut down for a number of reasons. Think about how many people think magic is some sort of devil worship.
No, it couldn't. It is a U.S. based website and therefore is outside the scope of either act. Further, neither act has the power to shut down websites. Even further, there would have to be proof before a court that there was infringement before any action under either act would be required (unless a counter notice was not provided under SOPA). Finally, I don't think that a regular person can bring an action under either act, but it must be a copyright holder.
Yes, thats ridiculous but lets remember its republicans we are dealing with and they don't really think.
Interesting because the AFL-CIO a union that is a strong supporter of the Democratic party is supporting the bill and the Tea Party is opposed to it.
This legislation needs to be stopped or we will end up like China. Go to google and sign the petition, call your sentator and congressman. Do what is necessary to stop this infringement on our freedoms.
We will end up like China? Really? That sounds like hyperbole to me.
What freedom is being infringed upon here? The freedom to surf (i.e. search for and send money to) non-U.S. based websites that violate copyrights. Yep. That's it.
Think about your reply before you make it. If you say freedom of speech -- first figure out who's speech is being restricted. It's not your speech. Secondly, recognize that commercial speech has typically been able to be restricted -- for example advertising about cigarettes or the making of false advertising claims (contrast that with political speech which is protected even if it is false).
Keep in mind that the burden of proof lies solely with the website and it's owners. Lets pretend for example that I get pissed off at theory11 because I don't win an SNC. All I have to do is accuse them of violating a copyright issue, and Uncle Sam steps in and shuts the site down. Am I responsible for making an error in bad faith? No. Does Uncle Sam have to verify the accuracy of the accusation first? No. There is next to no legal oversight for SOPA and PIPA.
This is the description of how SOPA operates from Wikipedia:
The bill would authorize the U.S. Department of Justice to seek court orders against websites outside U.S. jurisdiction accused of infringing on copyrights, or of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement. After delivering a court order, the U.S. Attorney General could require US-directed Internet service providers, ad networks, and payment processors to suspend doing business with sites found to infringe on federal criminal intellectual property laws. The Attorney General could also bar search engines from displaying links to the sites.
The bill also establishes a two-step process for intellectual property rights holders to seek relief if they have been harmed by a site dedicated to infringement. The rights holder must first notify, in writing, related payment facilitators and ad networks of the identity of the website, who, in turn, must then forward that notification and suspend services to that identified website, unless that site provides a counter notification explaining how it is not in violation. The rights holder can then sue for limited injunctive relief against the site operator, if such a counter notification is provided, or if the payment or advertising services fail to suspend service in the absence of a counter notification.
Under that description, unless you are the copyright holder you cannot take any action against any website (again, T11 wouldn't be even covered because it is within the U.S.). Next, there has to be either a non-response from the website or a court order before the third-party has to take any action. The discretion of the U.S. Department of Justice provides some check that meritless claims will not be brought but there is also judicial oversight in terms of having to obtain a court order.
Don't get me wrong, I think that a couple of good people with good intentions came up with an idea they thought would help, but this is a very dangerous act that is going through congress right now, and it's one that will change the internet as we know it (for the worse) should it pass.
On the good intentions side, this is an attempt to keep foreign websites from illegally selling copyrighted material (and counterfeit drugs) in the United States. I agree with that idea. However, I have some concerns about the mechanism used and the procedural safeguards that are in place in the pending legislation.
I have a bigger problem with the "it will be the end of the world" exaggeration. It is a sign that people are being swayed by the "spin" without digging deeper into the facts. It's also like that old game of telephone where everyone repeats something they heard to the next person in line and by the end of the line the entire meaning changes.
If you are interested, read the Wikipedia summaries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PROTECT_IP_Act