Wiki Blackout

[PennLady]

Another article, from Slate.com, on the possible benefits of copyright infringement. Just passing it along, not endorsing anything.

http://www.slate.com/articles/busin...would_be_a_social_and_economic_disaster_.html

 

[JackLuis]

Alternet is reporting that Obama has come out against both bills.

Victory for Internet Freedom: Obama Announces Opposition to SOPA, Congress Shelves Bill

The legislation ran into an even more significant problem yesterday when the White House announced its opposition to the bills. Though the administration’s chief technology officials officials acknowledged the problem of online privacy, the White House statement presented a fairly detailed critique of the measures and concluded, “We will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk or undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet.” It added that any proposed legislation “must not tamper with the technical architecture of the Internet.”

 

[trysail]

The fellow's poor reading comprehension and inability to interpret the law is a reflection of a substandard education. The attempt to impose that misunderstanding on others is symptomatic of a deeper pathology.

 

[sr71plt]

The fellow's poor reading comprehension and inability to interpret the law is a reflection of a substandard education. The attempt to impose that misunderstanding on others is symptomatic of a deeper pathology.

Well, you used your own words for a change rather than stealing someone else's and reposting it here.

Lit's own Exhibit A on why this mess even exists has arrived, gang.

 

[JackLuis]

Protests Work! Cornyn & Rubio Drop SOPA, Obama Rejects Keystone

Wonkett throws in the Keystone bit to show that public pressure still works, sometimes.

 

[TE999]

You're idiots if you think congress wants this law in place so it can make money off the internet. Congress wants this in place so that private corporations can keep the money they're getting from their stuff instead of having that stuff stolen. These people have paid congress to make this law for them...not for Congress, and certainly not for you. I know this because the laws as written give corporations the power to censor foreign websites. If congress is doing this to get control and money from the internet, why give corporations or any other private parties such power? Why not put it all into the hands of some government agency...if congress wants money as well as control?

What color is the sky on your planet, 3?

Corporations own Congress through lobbyists and campaign contributions, but the government has the absolute power to control the communications network in this country including the internet. Should legislation like this (or worse) ever get passed, you can bet the farm that the government would do the heavy lifting for the corporations in controlling free speech.

I'm not against government services, just the ones that deprive me of my basic freedoms in the name of protecting some corporate monolith.

 

[sethp]

Yes they could. But the basic problem would still not be that they did that but that some selfish dumb bunny had posted the copyrighted material here to begin with. It's not a change in the problem or in what copyright is supposed to protect.

It's not even a change in the rules of this website. Copyrighted material is not supposed to be reposted here.

It's just a change in your convenience. It would be a wake-up call--for anyone who took the time to think about the rights of authorship. (Which really shouldn't be too much to ask of someone posting to a forum called "Authors Hangout")

Your points are valid and I agree. The thing with these bills though is the heavy handedness with which they would be used. Lit would shut down within a week. many other sites soon after. This kind of censorship is never okay. There are other ways to combat piracy. Better ways.

 

[sr71plt]

Yep, I think this particular legislation is dumb--and unattainable. As a wakeup call it has value, though.

 

[sr71plt]

What color is the sky on your planet, 3?

Corporations own Congress through lobbyists and campaign contributions, but the government has the absolute power to control the communications network in this country including the internet. Should legislation like this (or worse) ever get passed, you can bet the farm that the government would do the heavy lifting for the corporations in controlling free speech.

I'm not against government services, just the ones that deprive me of my basic freedoms in the name of protecting some corporate monolith.

Lucky for your dispostion, the executive part of government (those who enforce the laws) have no intention of enforcing such a law (or trying to--Congress might have a slight chance of passing such a law, but there's no chance Congress is going to provide the necessary money to enforce it).

 

[JackLuis]

Pirates Stole My Wallet, But Who Cares?

Here is a man who's view is similar to the pilot.

I wrote and directed a movie called The Ledge. It took me seven years to get it made. It was in competition at Sundance last year and subsequently made a little money. Far, far less than it should have because if you search the internet for The Ledge Free Download you'll find many places where you can download it for nothing. If you do so, you are not just stealing from me, you are also (by making films less profitable), ultimately stealing from the production designer and his staff, the cinematographer and his crew, the composer, the editor, the actors, and the carpenters, grips, assistants, sound recordists, extras, drivers, all of whom gave their brains, their time, and their muscles to this risky "piece of work".