Things Aren't Going too Well for SOPA

[MV64]

I think ultimately SOPA will fail, but the fact that it's come this far is troubling for the future. How many times can we dodge a bullet? Proponents of censorship will only get richer, smarter and more powerful as time goes on. Now that the idea of censorship is out there, it's only a matter of years before it becomes an acceptable thought, not an outrageous one.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by MV64

I think ultimately SOPA will fail, but the fact that it's come this far is troubling for the future. How many times can we dodge a bullet? Proponents of censorship will only get richer, smarter and more powerful as time goes on. Now that the idea of censorship is out there, it's only a matter of years before it becomes an acceptable thought, not an outrageous one.

May I suggest that all of us respect copyright? That would be a big first step to avoid such nonsense as SOPA in the future. Just reading this forum you can frequently hear "piracy for personal use should be ok", "all ebooks should be free", etc you can understand why SOPA came about. The more you push the industry, the more they will try to push back. It is just human nature. If copyrights are being widely respected, SOPA and any future similar legislation will stay dead and burried, as they well should.

[GA Russell]

I wrote my two senators and congresswoman yesterday, asking that they vote against it.

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

May I suggest that all of us respect copyright? That would be a big first step to avoid such nonsense as SOPA in the future. Just reading this forum you can frequently hear "piracy for personal use should be ok", "all ebooks should be free", etc you can understand why SOPA came about. The more you push the industry, the more they will try to push back. It is just human nature. If copyrights are being widely respected, SOPA and any future similar legislation will stay dead and burried, as they well should.

It is not just about respecting copyright here. SOPA is purely control as well as censorship.

These companies supporting the SOPA bill need to move forward to meet the customers, THEIR customers, those who give them reason for existing n the first place.

Instead they sit behind self erected fortified walls on a self erected hill refusing to make any changes to their anachronistic business systems. Fix that and a good deal of casual copyright violations will go away.

Funding for such a change comes from that insanely high budget they expend per annum on copyright litigation lawyers, advertising, falsified statistics and paying for US senators election campaigns.

The more they sit on their collective fat behinds and pontificate, sue, lie and bribe, the more customers give them the bird and visit darknet alleys.

Do you not think that customers are bushing back as well? They are and that is why these companies are running scared, seemingly paralysed with indecision.

It takes two to tango, the dance floor is empty and the evening is drawing towards the end.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by sabredog

It is not just about respecting copyright here. SOPA is purely control as well as censorship.

These companies supporting the SOPA bill need to move forward to meet the customers, THEIR customers, those who give them reason for existing n the first place.

Instead they sit behind self erected fortified walls on a self erected hill refusing to make any changes to their anachronistic business systems. Fix that and a good deal of casual copyright violations will go away.

Funding for such a change comes from that insanely high budget they expend per annum on copyright litigation lawyers, advertising, falsified statistics and paying for US senators election campaigns.

The more they sit on their collective fat behinds and pontificate, sue, lie and bribe, the more customers give them the bird and visit darknet alleys.

Do you not think that customers are bushing back as well? They are and that is why these companies are running scared, seemingly paralysed with indecision.

It takes two to tango, the dance floor is empty and the evening is drawing towards the end.

It is good that the customers are pushing back --- the problem is when customers are pushing back by going to the darknet. Giving the companies the perfect excuse to try to push such or similar legislation. And that is exactly why they spend such insane amounts on lawyers and lobbyists. All that money could get back to us customers, if there was a general consensus to respect copyright (violated only by people on the very fringe, who don't really matter since they would never be customers, anyway).

[sabredog]

I repeat what I said earlier.

It TAKES two to tango

[taosaur]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

It is good that the customers are pushing back --- the problem is when customers are pushing back by going to the darknet. Giving the companies the perfect excuse to try to push such or similar legislation. And that is exactly why they spend such insane amounts on lawyers and lobbyists. All that money could get back to us customers, if there was a general consensus to respect copyright (violated only by people on the very fringe, who don't really matter since they would never be customers, anyway).

The lack of respect for copyright comes in direct proportion to the lack of respect the entertainment industry pays to the audience and talent alike. The strategy of middlemen narrowing the options of both producers and consumers of content--gatekeeping and stifling innovation on both ends--is not new to the digital age; it's just harder to maintain. When the "straight world" better reflects the realities of technology, supply and demand--and thereby better serves the culture--the black market will lose its raison d'être.

[xg4bx]

Originally Posted by taosaur

The lack of respect for copyright comes in direct proportion to the lack of respect the entertainment industry pays to the audience and talent alike. The strategy of middlemen narrowing the options of both producers and consumers of content--gatekeeping and stifling innovation on both ends--is not new to the digital age; it's just harder to maintain. When the "straight world" better reflects the realities of technology, supply and demand--and thereby better serves the culture--the black market will lose its raison d'être.

when customers are treated like a slow puppy who needs a firm hand lest they immediately start pirating, its no surprise that customers respond in kind. when right off the bat you're coming at me like i'm a thieving dirtbag, why should i show your product any respect?

theres plenty of evidence out there that shows that companies that are relatively hands-off see great success. the marketplace is pretty good at supporting those who do the "right thing".

instead of evolving AT ALL these companies would simply rather bring a nuke to a knife fight. i'm convinced that the entertainment field still hasn't learned anything from the vcr, let alone ebooks and digital downloads. and they never will. if it weren't for "filthy thieving pirates" and outside the box thinkers kicking them in the a55 we probably wouldn't have very much, they'd still be content with papyrus .

they're ancient and they're outdated, they'll never, ever learn. they're getting a rude awakening to the fact that people just don't have to bend over and take it anymore and they have no idea how to respond except reach for the last resort. its easier to just destroy it all than do the heavy lifting required to update their moldering business practices.

[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I wrote my two senators and congresswoman yesterday, asking that they vote against it.

The Senate version of the Act is called PIPA - Protect Intellectual Property Act.

Today I received an email from one of my senators, Kay Hagan (Democrat), which said that she is a co-sponsor of PIPA.

[MV64]

Obviously pirating is a problem, but illegal activity happens in every industry. That doesn't give the government the right to step in and shut down or control businesses in an industry that has a problem. Some businesses employ illegal immigrants, should we now shut down businesses like Seven-Eleven where immigrants gather outside of to look for work? It's essentially the same thing.

[xg4bx]

"In a leaked letter sent to Spain's outgoing President, the US ambassador warned that if Spain didn't pass SOPA-like file-sharing site blocking law, Spain would risk being put into United States trade blocklist. United States government interference in Spain's intellectual property laws have been suspected for a long time, and now the recent leaks of diplomatic cables confirm this. Apart from the cables leaked earlier, now another cable dated December 12th says U.S. expresses "deep concern" over the failure to implement SOPA-style censorship law in the country. 'The government has unfortunately failed to finish the job for political reasons, to the detriment of the reputation and economy of Spain,' read the letter. Racing against the clock in the final days of the government, Solomont had one last push. 'I encourage the Government of Spain to implement the Sinde Law immediately to safeguard the reputation of Spain as an innovative country that does what it says it will, and as a country that breeds confidence,' he wrote."


http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/01/...-sopa-like-law

[sabredog]

Spain should tell the US government (AKA the MPIA/RIAA) to naff off.