So we’ve had a good ride, and it’s been fun and all, but it appears as though the Internet is on a path to no longer being a haven for free speech, tasteful piracy, and cost-free advice. Under the PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act) and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act), two bills being considered by the U.S., sites which link or contained copyrighted material can be blocked without a damn thing they can do about it. No trial, no notice, just complete fuckery.
If you tried using Wikipedia yesterday (perhaps before yesterday), you may have noticed what it would be like should the act(s) pass and select sites be blocked. Of course the passing of these bills would do little to isolate the actual problem as computer savvy users could easily get to sites through IP address, but the result would put a great deal of power in the hands of those heavily contributing to lobbies. Not to sound like a cliche, but do we really want more power in the hands of censorship?
It may actually be time for us independents to write or representatives and hope that their lust for being re-elected helps to shoot down these proposed pieces of legislative oppression. These bills are targeted to online piracy, but even those who are against the idea will argue that the term is quite vague. To what extend is an album cover or the tracks contained within public domain, and when are they being used for the financial benefit of those who yanked them from the web? Well, it would no longer be up for debate, but rather the judgement of a committee designed to protect those who may be losing precious coin.
These bills would not only hurt piracy sites, but would also hurt a variety of other sites as well. Any sites who rely on linking to other sites with copyrighted material would be blocked without trial and would frankly make the Internet a lot less fun. There are an infinite number of sites that simply cannot exist without a free and uncensored web, and it will take an overwhelming tide against these bills to ensure that the Internet stays that way. Write, e-mail, accost your representatives and make it clear that you would rather not have your hub for free speech and angry yelling over stupid shit not to be tampered with.
For the facts on SOPA and PIPA there is a great article in PC World.
