What is S.O.P.A ?

[Kurtis]

If this law passes the internet will be a different world. Lots of policing to do. Wouldn't take long to censor this and that then prosecute at will. It would make millions of internet users extremely unhappy. Some internet companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook and other big dogs might shut down to protest this bill. Lots of revenue would be lost. ripple effect would occur. I wouldn't have a problem with that. They can blackout indefinitely or until this stupid SOPA crap gets crushed to the ground. I don't see this bill being passed even though it looks like it just might. Still a few weeks away until they vote and lots of things can happen until then. time to write to your senators. you can vote in people who are against this bill but they end up getting paid and pushing through these types of bills anyhow. Cash Is King!

[Josiah]

I don't agree with SOPA or any attempt to control the internet at all. But that video is a farce. Blatant propaganda that is easily disproved. Which unfortunately is the kind of thing that undermines what should be a solid argument against restrictions.

CBS did not create BitTorrent. BitTorrent is a protocol design by a guy named Bram Cohen and his company, BitTorrent Inc. Bram is also the founder of CodeCon, and about the most opposite person to be involved in any kind of censorship.

A guy named Mark Groton created LimeWire, which is Java based software and part of a larger set of companies Mr. Groton owns, all with Lime names. Considering the millions of dollars spent in legal battles over the software and the fact the supreme court heard the case, it is highly skeptical it is all a rouse. See Artisa V Lime Group

Stay informed:

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/show

[Steve Holmes]

I took down the initial post because I thought we should start with a nice summary of the Bill instead of loony conspiracy vids. Sorry =(

[Henry II]

I took down the initial post because I thought we should start with a nice summary of the Bill instead of loony conspiracy vids. Sorry =(

Obviously, you didn't watch the whole video. If you had, you'd know there was nothing loony about it. So, you can default to the right wing meme of using the words conspiracy theory as a pejorative in order to divert attention from criminal and/or tortious conduct. But, conspiracy to commit a tort or a crime is still a tort or a crime. And, the conspiracy to manufacture a false IP piracy crisis in order to justify a law that would literally end the open internet is genuine, not looney.

[electrizer]

Stupid question but is that bill only for America or will this apply to other parts of the world?

And, with all due respect to Steve who is a fantastic guy, and even without seeing the video, I should say that the phrase conspiracy theories has gained a very pejorative connotation which in the eyes of many people means something that is totally made up and shouldn't really be paid attention to by a 'modern-thinking, sensible human being', and has been heavily overused recently to dismiss a lot of information which makes so much sense if only put some mind to it and all the puzzles were put together.

I'm really worried what's happening in the world nowadays, for a lot of which the US is a catalyst. The Patriot Act, NDAA, SOPA. Im not sure if anybody read any of the CONSPIRACY novels, predominantly Orwell's 1984, Huxley's Brave New World or Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 but those guys had it figured out ages ago. Sometimes you don't need 100% reason to discover the truth, it just takes a bit of observation and intuition.

[Henry II]

Stupid question but is that bill only for America or will this apply to other parts of the world?

And, with all due respect to Steve who is a fantastic guy, and even without seeing the video, I should say that the phrase conspiracy theories has gained a very pejorative connotation which in the eyes of many people means something that is totally made up and shouldn't really be paid attention to by a 'modern-thinking, sensible human being', and has been heavily overused recently to dismiss a lot of information which makes so much sense if only put some mind to it and all the puzzles were put together.

I'm really worried what's happening in the world nowadays, for a lot of which the US is a catalyst. The Patriot Act, NDAA, SOPA. Im not sure if anybody read any of the CONSPIRACY novels, predominantly Orwell's 1984, Huxley's Brave New World or Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 but those guys had it figured out ages ago. Sometimes you don't need 100% reason to discover the truth, it just takes a bit of observation and intuition.

Good question, not a stupid question. The laws passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by the President apply to the U.S. However, they may also apply to other countries that have a treaty with the U.S. that says a particular U.S. law applies, or that, ie: violators of the law can be extridicted to the U.S. for prosecution and/or civil suit.

WATCH THE VIDEO! (I originally posted a link to the video in its own thread entitled "The way capitalism works." But, I guess you can't even criticize capitalism on HOD anymore). I know it's way over the top in terms of irony, sarcasm and facetiousness, but, it answers a lot of your questions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJIuYgIvKsc

[matthughen]

SOPA is a real and profound political and technological issue. Anyone looking for a less hysterical discussion of SOPA might want to chk out these CNET links.

SOPA FAQ:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57329 ... =mncol;txt

Recent Developements:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57349 ... edictions/

SOPA wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act

[gretsch-o-rama]

Steve's House. enuff said

[Josiah]

That video is pretty blatant typical "conspiracy" hogwash. As I pointed out, it is easily disproved (see below).

'CBS did not create BitTorrent. BitTorrent is a protocol design by a guy named Bram Cohen and his company, BitTorrent Inc. Bram is also the founder of CodeCon, and about the most opposite person to be involved in any kind of censorship.

A guy named Mark Groton created LimeWire, which is Java based software and part of a larger set of companies Mr. Groton owns, all with Lime names. Considering the millions of dollars spent in legal battles over the software and the fact the supreme court heard the case, it is highly skeptical it is all a rouse. See Artisa V Lime Group'



You can also see that the bill hasn't even been voted on. The odds of it failing are significant. http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/show

[Henry II]

SOPA is a real and profound political and technological issue. Anyone looking for a less hysterical discussion of SOPA might want to chk out these CNET links.

SOPA FAQ:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57329 ... =mncol;txt

Recent Developements:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57349 ... edictions/

SOPA wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act

Except CNET is owned by CBS. And, CBS is the primary supporter of SOPA and the primary vendor of all of the file sharing software that it gave away through CNET in order to induce the public to share copyrighted content, so that it could then go to Congress with this manufactured crisis and demand SOPA which would effectively destroy the open internet, including websites in which protected content is shared, like HOD.