SOPA (in it's current form) is dead.  It's been withdrawn

  *Edited to add that the PIPA vote is being delayed as well.  Most likely because they are afraid of the current publicity - and hoping it will die down.  Don't let it!

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Originally posted by Elenna
Hollywood would love for everyone to believe that piracy is a huge problem that hurts them.

What bothers them even more, is that it's not like the good old days where "pirates" actually profited from "piracy", it's that people can just get stuff for free, but worse, FAR FAR FAR WORSE, people can actually upload for anyone to see, things they've created that may have a clip from a film, or a passage from a song, or even a WHOLE song.

This bothers them, because every time someone youtubes something funny and uses a little bit of their IP in the process, they are thinking that they could be making a fortune in some form or royalty payment from it. This act goes far beyond just the downloading/uploading of copyrighted material, it wants to go to great lengths to punish sites/internet providers etc who have anything that can be considered theft or unauthorized usage of intellectual property, and in so doing censoring the entire internet, at least for Americans so that they can only see an internet Hollywood wants them to see.

I would argue (when you read any comments to some of the postings on youtube/personal websites/blogs etc) that they (Hollywood) are getting a lot of free advertizing, and that anyone after asking what the tune/film clip etc. was who downloads it without paying for it afterward, was unlikely to have paid for it even if they were unable to download it. Period.

If Hollywood isn't making enough money, it's not because of misuse of IP by the public, it's by a misuse of their own money by continually putting out a whole pile of crap that people don't want to see/hear. Again, I'd argue that all the sharing probably helps sell some of that crap to people that downloaded it and liked it enough to actually buy it.

How many films do you see trailers for that make you think "OH I HAVE TO GO SEE THAT!"? Almost none. If it isn't a remake of a remake, it's a sequel to a sequel (for a movie that should never have been released in the first place, let alone have any sequels). How many times you even hear music that you MUST have?

We've seen it all and heard it all before. That's why Hollywood isn't making as much money as it thinks it should. I DO buy the occasional Blu Ray disc, because I do pay for things I want to see. I would buy so many more, if there were actually any worth having. I DON'T download any movies or music, not because I am trying to be on any moral high ground, but for the same reason I own so few Blu Rays.... There's so little that's of any interest to start with.

If the bill gets passed, then I think everyone has a duty to boycott them completely. We've already been forced to change our televisions so that everything can only be broadcast digitally in order that they can dictate what you can record and whether or not you can watch it how and when you want, and yet most stuff is still broadcast in 4:3 sd resolutions and your cable company wants a premium for the few channels that broadcast SOME of their material in proper HD.

By the time they're finished you won't be able to quote anything from a film/book or hum anything from a piece of music you've heard without breaking the law for unauthorized used of IP. We do therefore have to somehow show that we're not going to continually let them dictate how we are entertained. 

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This is all true. And what is worse, is that pirates don't actually hurt the industry. If anything, they spend more. I simply can't fathom why companies are against it when study after study shows they spend as much or more money than people who don't pirate.

Sure, they don't want people to steal, but time has shown that most of these people aren't steal for the hell of it. And honestly, I can understand why, when so much of what Hollywood and game companies put out is absolute shit. I am not supporting stealing, but the numbers show that it doesn't hurt companies, at all.

And Light forbid one downloads a few episodes of a TV show you watch every single week to put together a tribute video. (Not that I have; I am far too lazy.) Or post anything infringing on Facebook or Google or Youtube. Even seemingly innocent things like takeaways to to a second of copyrighted footage as part of a video one created oneself.

I think this is a power thing, nothing more.

This sounds alot like the NRA who go all crazy when you want to take away one type of bullet or make people have to wait 7 days to  register a weapon. And just like the NRA we are now going to have more Lobbiest bothering congress.

Originally posted by Rampage9799

This sounds alot like the NRA who go all crazy when you want to take away one type of bullet or make people have to wait 7 days to  register a weapon. And just like the NRA we are now going to have more Lobbiest bothering congress.

Not really. Its more like any other vested interest that wants government to do something to benefit it, or damage their competitors (at tax payer expense of course...).  SOPA/PIPA are classic examples of this attempt to shift some corporate expense or another to the tax payers.  In this case, the expense of due process and transition through the judicial system. 

It was predictable, given that many districts in the US are growing long since tired of the antics of Big Content, and have started to make them deal with individual cases, rather than whole sale.  Who better than their bought and paid for lap dogs in congress, to smooth their path, and dump the expense on the US tax payer?

As for the other, the NRA has long been more a part of the problem, rather than any real solution.  The GOA or JPFO on the other hand are not paper tigers, and those in congress do not like to cross them. 

My perspective of sopa is that it would effect American buisness as many websites would go abroad . If SOPA and PIPA are looking to control the content of th internet outside its boarders is extremly wrong . In fact I would go so far as to say it would be a significant step towards making America a Facist dictatorship . It would tarnish the worlds view of the USA and the harm it would do internationally to americas reputation would be massive . I'm so glad you guys across the pond are standing up against this . Your very freedon is on the line and if they get away with this it will be just the begining of a very slippery slope .

yes

I totally agree with your statement. Our govt today more than ever want to take our rights away as citizens, they want total control of our lives not just the internet. But they keep taking more and more resy assure that this is just another cloak of control its nice to say Piracy etc but trust me its more than just what they say.  Call your congressman etc and tell them no way!

Unless you want to live in a world similar to the one in the Battle Royale series soon, tell SOPA to gtfo. Guys, technically Justin Beiber is SOPA. MegaUpload.com was removed because of Justin Beiber. Anyways, unless you idiots don't enjoy freedom of EVERYTHING, then don't let them take this from you. Kill the internet and you kill the true voice of people. 

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check megavideo.com the bill is allready passed the fbi anti piracy has allready taken it down and are takeing lots of other sites down as time gos on they are thinking of going after world of warcraft from what i have herd

MegaVideo is simply another example of why SOPA/PIPA are not necessary. Mordor on the Potomacs reach extends into any country it can bribe and/or bully into submission to its will, and that of its corporate masters.   We've already seen multiple examples of what happens when a country doesn't obey the orders of the Empire. 

Originally posted by Dragonantis

As usual, America trying to control everything in the world.

 

Down with Sopa!

 

Don't blame us....it is our government that sucks not the average person lol. It would be nice if we actually did get what we the people want by majority decision. and yes i agree....down with SOPA.

I need the "meat" that is the internet, don't give me soup and expect me to be happy with that ;)

We are in a grave need of Jedi.

You have to ask yourself - why is Hollywood not coming up with better security for their products? With all the money they have are we meant to believe they cannot come up with a system to protect their copyrighted material? This is just an excuse to regulate the internet. Government is a tool and is bought and paid for, Bilderberg is mad.

Originally posted by PsychoPigeon

You have to ask yourself - why is Hollywood not coming up with better security for their products? With all the money they have are we meant to believe they cannot come up with a system to protect their copyrighted material? This is just an excuse to regulate the internet. Government is a tool and is bought and paid for, Bilderberg is mad.

Its been demonstrated time after time after time, that any technical solution they attempt gets defeated.  Its the nature of the complex technologies involved.  They are using their bought and paid for politicians now, because they absolutely refuse to change their business model, and for a long, long time they have been able to get anything they wanted from our Dear Leaders.  The US has the best government money can buy... But thats pretty much true of just about any major nation state government. 

No doubt the sociopaths who rule most of the major nation states would LOVE to have much tighter control over the internet, but at this point they spend most of their time fighting among themselves. If that ever changes, Bad Things(tm) are likely to happen.