SOPA/PIPA: What and why

[Medusa]

This bill is super scary.

To think that I could wake up one morning to a message from our hosting company that our content has been blocked because of someone's complaint (that hasn't been investigated) makes me sick.

The fact of the matter is that this bill will put a lot of power into the hands of malicious trolls and people with with axes to grind. This site has already been the target of at least 2 trolls who contacted our hosting company with ridiculous bogus claims of "internet bullying" (which our host investigated and found that both people had zeros basis for their claims except for butthurt feelings over getting banned).

This bill means that anyone on this site making reference to a movie by posting a link to a trailer, or quoting a song or part of a book would essentially put the site in jeopardy of being shut down.

In the grand scheme of things, it will stifle our freedom of speech.

This bill means that our internet will become very similar to how the internet operates in China, where the government has most of the control over the content of what people see.

It is imperative that we sign this petition.

[Amber2010]

Thanks so much for the links.
This bill is so very Scary for all of us.

[Sachita]

Medusa have you thought about a mailing list for members that elect to join? Names, addresses and even phone numbers (for phone blast updates) ?
I would want my name on it. In the event anything happens we network like they did in the old days- remember mail? lol

Does anyone remember BBS systems? I owned a few back in the early 90's. 32 phone lines coming into my house, all accessing the same PC. I honestly have my doubts that this will get passed but seeing what is happening in the GMO and food safety front (doesnt matter how many people petition) it could. I think we should be prepared to keep our community together.

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Sachita

Medusa have you thought about a mailing list for members that elect to join? Names, addresses and even phone numbers (for phone blast updates) ?
I would want my name on it. In the event anything happens we network like they did in the old days- remember mail? lol

Does anyone remember BBS systems? I owned a few back in the early 90's. 32 phone lines coming into my house, all accessing the same PC. I honestly have my doubts that this will get passed but seeing what is happening in the GMO and food safety front (doesnt matter how many people petition) it could. I think we should be prepared to keep our community together.

I think we can. We'll have to look at email providers outside of the US with an alternate domain (e.g., butchfemmeplanet.ca) so that SOPA cannot reach the list and shut it down. One of the bigger challenges that I see is that while the current White House has said no to it, if Obama is turfed out and a Rep president comes in, they'll likely bring it in since they were one of the main advocates of the changes to the 4th Amendment..

[Quintease]

http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech...ives/1641.html

[Sachita]

No Linus I mean REAL MAIL- the kind you put a stamp on? lol I know its a distant memory but its going on!

an email list is fine but snail mail at least is a back up for networking, events, socials etc. A

also you could, if it came down to it, set up a computer BBS with forums, chat, etc. Today with the voice over internet phone services, allow people to dial in. Have you ever been in a BBS system before? Most are ansi but pretty much the same- forums, newsgroups, chat, etc.

hmmm I wonder by using a VOIP phone dialed direct into a one computer means it part of the internet? Hmmmm not if you had a bank of number and people called in using their own voip service. My brain is hurting now, I'll stop. lol

[Sachita]

I use to operate worldgroup which was called glacticom way back then. I'm sure you can still get bbs software. The key is making it independent of internet.

People could play games, upload pics, pretty much everything you see without all the GUI interface. Users purchased credits to become members.

[Softhearted]

As someone who has worked in the world of music for about 20 years, I'm very sensitive to issues concerning copyright and intellectual property.

I hear a lot of uproar against SOPA and how bad it is but what would be your solution to stop piracy then?

People who work in the music, artistic industries should not work for free... and I'm not talking only about the artists per say... Many people are involved, from the guy who work in the CD packaging to the seller in a store...

Just my .02 cents

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Softhearted

As someone who has worked in the world of music for about 20 years, I'm very sensitive to issues concerning copyright and intellectual property.

I hear a lot of uproar against SOPA and how bad it is but what would be your solution to stop piracy then?

People who work in the music, artistic industries should not work for free... and I'm not talking only about the artists per say... Many people are involved, from the guy who work in the CD packaging to the seller in a store...

Just my .02 cents

The reality is that copyright infringement/piracy will never stop. The internet really caused this to explode and be more visible but it was done before the internet and will continue well beyond the current way the way the internet is. Part of it is cultural and part of it is technological. The reality is that this law is too broad.

I think that perhaps things aren't being address accurately. It has to be addressed two ways:

1. With things stored locally
2. Things stored outside of borders.

Locally (federally) can be address in regards to local laws. If the law had a mechanism where verification was done to ensure that reports were valid and that even the whistle blower wasn't a target (which under SOPA they could be). The realm of the FBI's white collar task force would be an appropriate law enforcement arm to work on this (since it would cross statelines due to the nature of the internet).

Internationally, treaties and in-state police task forces would be a better way to deal with those outside the border. Each state needs to create laws to address this and it should match what is agreed to on the treaty and should have similar minimum sentencing rules. Again, it should be based on verifiable information and not just because someone blows the whistle.

A bad law to address an issue is not better than no law to address it. If anything, it makes things worse.

[SuddenlyWestFemme]

Originally Posted by Softhearted

I hear a lot of uproar against SOPA and how bad it is but what would be your solution to stop piracy then?

People who work in the music, artistic industries should not work for free... and I'm not talking only about the artists per say... Many people are involved, from the guy who work in the CD packaging to the seller in a store...

Just my .02 cents

I also worked in the arts industry for a long time.

I don't really have an answer except to say that theft has always been a part of the industry. Many movies have been piloted through the ages. I can't tell you how many friends of mine made tapes for me off of records and other tapes. And at the time, I never even thought of it as theft. Listen to Lady Gaga and then Madonna (especially the "Express Yourself" song) and you can see how much 'borrowing' is going on. It used to be if someone shoplifted a CD, the people hurt were the storeowners and employees. With the internet that hurt has gone directly to artists more often.

I don't have an answer, but most artists I know wouldn't want the internet to shut down sites - without thorough and proper investigation - to protect them. It is very hard to be a successful artist without free speech and not being able to speak on this 'site' is a form of sensorship.

And one more side note. Pricing is based on expected theft. The reason everything is so expensive is because the industry now understands that there will be theft and they make up for it. I doubt that things will become cheaper for us to buy once we can't get onto our favorite websites.

[SuddenlyWestFemme]

I sent my emails this morning. Grrrrrrr... the irony to me is how many republicans are for these bills. Isn't their whole platform supposed to be LESS government??!! Grrrrrrr....

Okay, I do understand that these bills have democrat and republican support and in fact are being sponsored by representatives of BOTH parties - but I never understand why republicans care so much about the government getting involved in these types of things (I include gay marriage in my wondering, but that's another issue) when their whole platform is 'LESS government'. Grrrrrrr....

[Kätzchen]

I signed the petition.