The SOPA Act

[shikitohno]

A hearing took place today that essentially served to try and paint anyone opposed to the act as supporting criminals. For those of you who haven't yet come across this lovely bit of legislation, the Stop Online Piracy Act aims to "improve" on the DMCA. This would create a system where a copyright holder could report a website as infringing to the government, and get a court order from a judge. The court order would require that all US based DNS servers (part of the backbone of the internet), ISPs and search engines block people from accessing the website. It would also require all forms of payment processing companies and advertising agencies immediately cease conducting business with the named website. As far as I can tell from what I've read so far, the judges are supposed to take the copyright holders at their word and issue their court orders without any sort of investigation. The only recourse a website would have would be to file for a counter-order and try to prove that it isn't assisting in copyright infringement. The law also essentially kills the safe-harbour provisions of the DMCA. Also, considering that the majority of DNS servers are based in the US, this would wipe the website off the internet globally, except for those technologically savvy enough to change which DNS server their computer uses, and point it to one overseas.

One of the major concerns with this act is collateral damage. Say someone posts a youtube video of a Metallica song here on snuson, if they became aware of it, that could potentially be grounds for wiping Snuson off the net. Currently there are only 11 representatives who have voiced opposition to this act. Yes Ron Paul is one of them. Although perhaps surprising for the members of this site, 9 out of the 11 (Oh god, where's tom, he could spin a great theory out of this...) dissentors were Democrats. So for once, no they're not the ones in the minority trying to stand up for your rights. So, what does SnusOn think of this? I'm going to try and remember the address for one of those websites that sends a form leter on your behalf expressing your opinion on a bill. Personally, I'm most assuredly going to be expressing my extreme displeasure with the way this is being forced through Congress. Something tells me lx will be with me on that one, but I want to hear what everyone else has to say.

Edit: Found the site, and fired off my message.

[shortiee4]

The government needs to stay out of the shit they don't fully understand. This could end up real bad for the reasons that you mentioned. I can see hundreds, if not thousands, of websites being taken down for no reason at all.

Sent a message through that site, can't hurt I guess.

[lxskllr]

The US government is seizing property without trial, and assassinating American citizens. This is small time in comparison. The lawmakers have been bought by corporate media.

Here's a very lengthy speech by Richard Stallman. It's well worth a listen. The editing has some irritating breaks, but it's very relevant to this legislation, and interesting. Open it in a tab, and listen while you're doing something else. It doesn't have to be watched.

[shikitohno]

I would listen lx, but the last update to pulse seems to have broken support for my sound card. These damn HDA Intel cards seem to be one of the worst supported sound cards for linux. Here's my rant to Nan Hayworth

And I'm aware of the issues that you're raising lx, but I've just been experiencing a build up of seething rage every time I see this come up, and had to vent. Besides, this seems like an issue that could get some decent rallying behind it. After all, it could adversely effect people's ability to find internet porn, and that would just be terrible, right?

Also, to make things even better, the US Register of Copyrights, Maria Pallante, has gone on the record saying that she believes copyright will fail entirely without this law being passed, and that SOPA might not be far-reaching enough. Nice going there, I just found out who you are five minutes ago, and I already hate you.

[lxskllr]

I'm currently idling at the tell us who you are page, trying to decide whether I want to give them my personal information, or not. I'm not completely comfortable giving that to government people for dubious gain. I don't have any money to buy a congressman, so it seems to me it would just make me a target with no potential benefit :^/

Edit:
I went ahead and gave them my info, but no additional letter. I'm not feeling particularly wordy, or creative tonight, so I didn't bother.

On a side note; They didn't have a pope prefix, so I had to use pastor. I guess that's close enough. You all didn't know I was a pope in the Discordian church, did you? :^D

[LincolnSnuff]

On a side note; They didn't have a pope prefix, so I had to use pastor. I guess that's close enough. You all didn't know I was a pope in the Discordian church, did you? :^D

I would say you are using the terms "pope" and "church" very loosely here.

[shikitohno]

No less loosely than the Church of Scientology uses and religious terms. Besides, I'm sure lx has at least one comically oversized hat, a matching robe, and a gold chain or two.

[shikitohno]

*any religious terms, since editing isn't working at the moment for me....

[lxskllr]

I would say you are using the terms "pope" and "church" very loosely here.

Not at all. I'm just playing off people's presuppositions that being a pastor, or pope is something special. Actually, everyone is a pope in the Discordian church, and carries full rights at all times. Those rights can be distilled down to the core right of not being under the authority of the authorities :^)

Besides, I'm sure lx has at least one comically oversized hat, a matching robe, and a gold chain or two.

Oh, I certainly do. It has plush horns, and a short spiked tail, and while I'm not especially fond of robes, my Utilikilt finishes out my papal garb. That's a combination that commands respect and admiration, and leaves people with no doubt that "that guy's a pope" ;^)

[Kaplan]

Although perhaps surprising for the members of this site, 9 out of the 11 (Oh god, where's tom, he could spin a great theory out of this...) dissentors were Democrats. So for once, no they're not the ones in the minority trying to stand up for your rights. So, what does SnusOn think of this?

It always surprises me when people think the Right are more likely to support people's rights. I don't see it. And as for protecting free speech and privacy, it seems to me they have a terrible track record. They won't call it censorship, but protecting American values...against communists, against terrorists, against general perversion, which can have a very broad definition to some of them. But the result is inevitably less rights for the individual. This seems like an attempt to stiffen internet regulation, and provide the key to shutting down any site anybody finds objectionable, all in the name of protecting copyright law. Maybe I'm wrong. I don't pretend to be particularly knowledgeable about this SOPA Act, but I definitely object to it. There's already copyright rights and anti-piracy laws, and those who feel their work is being unlawfully used already have recourse to combat it.

[shikitohno]

Been reading up on this more and more today. When someone at the hearing yesterday mentioned that the sort of DNS filtering the SOPA act would require would cripple the security of the DNS system and open up people to tons of malicious attacks, the response from the bill's supporters was, "And? You'll just have to rewrite how DNS works then, won't you?" I find it absolutely infuriating and mind-boggling that a group of predominently old men whose idea of high technology is a computer with a punch card reader that can read 200 cards a minute without binding are allowed to write laws on how technology is used without being required to consult any sort of experts or authorities on the subject. This is the sort of issue where Congress should get together a team of computer scientists and network engineers and say, "In your expert opinions, what would be the best way to do this in order to maximize the desired effect (reducing piracy), while minimizing negative consequences of pursuing this goal?" Instead, we have a group of individuals, who by their own admission don't understand the technology well enough to feel comfortable making authoritative statements on the pros or cons of implementing this system as concerns DNS, simply tying to force the internet to conform to half-baked ideas, in the vain hopes that their fiat will be enough to convince everyone to completely alter how the internet functions. If you want to pass a feasible law to limit the emissions of automobiles in the country, you don't ask the ACLU to come up with ideas, because it's outside their realm of expertise. So why is it that science and technology issues are so often decided by the least qualified members of the AARP that we could find, with little to no input from people who actually know what they're talking about?

[shikitohno]

Here's a particularly silly defense of the bill, where they do a "protect the children style" argument. Accord to Reps. Lamar Smith and John Conyers, the Stop Online Piracy Act will...protect our troops? What a minute, that doesn't seem right.... Oh yeah, that's because this law doesn't change a damn thing remotedly related to the safety of members of the armed forces. In my opinion, this sort of disingenuous use of the military for cheap emotional reactions is pretty disrespectful to those who are in the military.

[LincolnSnuff]

Not at all. I'm just playing off people's presuppositions that being a pastor, or pope is something special. Actually, everyone is a pope in the Discordian church, and carries full rights at all times. Those rights can be distilled down to the core right of not being under the authority of the authorities :^)

Call yourself what you want, but its not a church. Its a philosophical position. Its just as much a church as nihilism is a church. If you want to base your life on the disorder of the universe thats fine, but you will regret it for eternity my brother.

[shikitohno]

LincolnSnuff, this might sound a bit harsh, but just because you don't happen to approve of a church doesn't change the fact the a church is a church. I think Scientology is a pretty nasty cult, but it still falls into the category of church. Likewise, the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Ethiopian Othodox Tewahedo Church or whichever you happen to follow isn't the only "valid" choice. It's kind of silly to argue whose unprovable beliefs are more right than the other's, and telling those who disagree with your opinion that they'll regret it for all eternity can only leave people with either a neutral or negative opinion of your chosen faith. Besides which, if you're arguing over the validity of one's faith in the Discordian Church, you're missing the point quite badly.

[sgreger1]

THE GREAT FIREWALL OF AMERICA


SOPA is literally the bill that will kill the internet. Google and Facebook the likes have come out aginst it since it would hold them liable for anyone who posted (or linked to) any copywritten materail on their sites. ESPECIALLY google, since all they do is link things. Removing every link to every Warez site or site that may have copywritten material would take a LOT of resources. Pretty much all other big companies are in favor of it though, everyone from the game to the entertainment/movie/music industry. EA games, Activision etc are all behind it.

If this passes, the internet we all grew up with will be gone.


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