U.S. To Introduce Draconian Anti-Piracy Censorship Bill

Lawmakers seem intent on approving SOPA, PIPA

 

How Copyright Industries Con Congress - CATO

 

Leahy Offers Major Concession On Online Piracy Bill

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January 12, 2012 | 4:14 p.m.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said on Thursday he would remove a controversial provision from his bill that aims to crack down on piracy and counterfeiting on foreign websites.

Leahy told Vermont Public Radio he would be willing to remove language that would allow a court to order service providers to redirect U.S. users away from websites that are primarily used to offer pirated music, movies and other content and counterfeit goods. Critics, which include major tech firms such as Google, Facebook and Twitter, argue the provision in the Protect IP Act could undermine the integrity of the Internet and efforts to bolster the security of the domain name system. The website-blocking provision is similar to a tool now used by U.S. law enforcement to go after domestic websites that offer pirated or counterfeit products.

“I’ve authorized my staff to tell … the other senators that I’m willing to hold that back in the final piece of legislation,” Leahy said. “That in itself will remove a lot of the opposition that we now have.”

Full story here:

http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/leahy-offers-major-concession-on-online-piracy-bill-20120112

 

Lawmaker Strips DNS Blocking From SOPA


ARTICLE DATE : January 13, 2012



Rep. Lamar Smith said Friday that he will remove a controversial provision from the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) that would have required ISPs to block Web sites with infringing content.

"After consultation with industry groups across the country, I feel we should remove Domain Name System blocking from the Stop Online Piracy Act so that the Committee can further examine the issues surrounding this provision," Smith, the bill's author, said in a statement. "We will continue to look for ways to ensure that foreign Web sites cannot sell and distribute illegal content to U.S. consumers."

SOPA targets "rogue" overseas Web sites that traffic in illegal goods, from fake purses to prescription drugs. It would allow the Department of Justice to obtain court orders to go after these Web sites and, before today, would have required ISPs to block sites with infringing content. Detractors, however, were concerned that the bill was too broad and would've targeted legitimate sites.

Though DNS blocking will be removed, SOPA will still allow officials to "follow the money" and cut off payment options to foreign illegal sites, like credit-card processing or PayPal accounts. Search engines like Google and Bing would also still be required to remove infringing Web sites from their search results. Copyright holders could also still bring claims against foreign Web sites that steal their technology, products, or IP.

"Congress cannot stand by and do nothing while some of America's most profitable and productive industries are under attack," Smith said.

The move comes as Sen. Patrick Leahy said he would consider a similar move for the Senate version of SOPA, known as the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). Rather than remove the DNS provisions outright, however, Leahy recommended that the DNS issue be studied before implementation."

Full story:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2398917,00.asp

 

PIPA's Own Sponsors Backing Off Bill - Techdirt
Senator Cardin on Protect IP Act

 

Stop SOPA and PIPA message on Craigslist.org main page.

 

Obama Administration Responds to We the People Petitions on SOPA and Online Piracy (via)

 

Murdoch launches Twitter tirade against Obama, Google over online piracy - CNN

Isn't this ironic, Mr. Murdoch, who owns one of the largest media empires, is attacking Google for building its media empire in a direction he doesn't approve of.

 

SOPA lives—and MPAA calls protests an "abuse of power" - ArsTechnica

 

ROFL!!!
The pot calls the kettle black!

 

Wikipedia to be blacked out over anti-piracy bill

FAQ for the SOPA

 

MPAA slams SOPA Wednesday protests

http://www.neowin.net/news/mpaa-slams-sopa-wednesday-protests

 

Microsoft finally issues SOPA opposition statement

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-finally-issues-sopa-opposition-statement

 

Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act A.K.A. OPEN act
How is OPEN Act like or different than SOPA and PIPA?

PIPA, SOPA and OPEN Act Quick Reference Guide - District Dispatch

 

Sopa: US backers end support for anti-piracy bill

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16623831


TH

 

SOPA / PIPA Co-Sponsors Drop Like Flies As Millions Protest

Today the Internet is witnessing the largest protest in its history, aimed at killing two pending anti-piracy bills. The effort has not been without results. During the past few hours several Senators who co-sponsored SOPA and PIPA have dropped their support. The protests made them realize that the legislation is flawed, and a potential threat to the future of the Internet.

While all the PIPA and SOPA protests are still ongoing, the first statistics coming in are truly impressive.

By 3pm Washington time millions of people had already voiced their concerns. Google just reported that more than 4 million people signed the petition on their site, and the EFF says that 250,000 people sent messages to Congress through their site. These are just two examples of the many initiatives currently being organized.

The big question is, of course, whether this wave of protest is having any effect. The answer is an unequivocal YES.
Not only have Senators’ websites been knocked offline due to the massive flow of traffic, but quite a few initial backers of the bills are having second thoughts.

Below is a list of PIPA and SOPA co-sponsors who have now dropped their support for the pending legislation. They are joined by more than a dozen lawmakers who didn’t sponsor the bills, but have now stated on the record that they are not planning to vote in favor. Some even decided to black out their own site.

Senator Marco Rubio was one of the first to de-list as a PIPA co-sponsor today, stating:

“Earlier this year, this bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously and without controversy. Since then, we’ve heard legitimate concerns about the impact the bill could have on access to the Internet and about a potentially unreasonable expansion of the federal government’s power to impact the Internet. Congress should listen and avoid rushing through a bill that could have many unintended consequences. “

“Therefore, I have decided to withdraw my support for the Protect IP Act. Furthermore, I encourage Senator Reid to abandon his plan to rush the bill to the floor. Instead, we should take more time to address the concerns raised by all sides, and come up with new legislation that addresses Internet piracy while protecting free and open access to the Internet.”

Initial PIPA backer Senator Roy Blunt drops out saying:

“While I believed the bill still needed much work, I cosponsored the Senate version of the Protect IP Act because I support the original intent of this bill – to protect against the piracy of lawful content. Upon passage of this bill through committee, Senate Judiciary Republicans strongly stated that there were substantive issues in this legislation that had to be addressed before it moved forward. I agree with that sentiment. ”

“The right to free speech is one of the most basic foundations that makes our nation great, and I strongly oppose sanctioning Americans’ right to free speech in any medium – including over the internet. I continue to believe that we can come to a solution that will cut off the revenue sources for foreign websites dedicated to counterfeiting and piracy that steal American jobs, hurt the economy, and harm consumers. But the Protect IP Act is flawed as it stands today, and I cannot support it moving forward.”

Senator Orrin Hatch followed, and is no longer a co-sponsor of PIPA either. He said:

“After listening to the concerns on both sides of the debate over the PROTECT IP Act, it is simply not ready for prime time and both sides must continue working together to find a better path forward”

“Rushing something with such potential for far-reaching consequences is something I cannot support and that’s why I will not only vote against moving the bill forward next week but also remove my cosponsorship of the bill. Given the legitimate vocal concerns, it is imperative that we take a step back to allow everyone to come together and find a reasonable solution.”

Senator John Boozman is no longer backing PIPA, he stated:

“I will have my name removed as a co-sponsor of the bill and plan to vote against it if Majority Leader Reid brings it to the floor in its current form.”

“The PROTECT IP Act seeks to address an issue that is of vital importance to the future of intellectual property rights in the modern era. However, the concerns regarding the unintended consequences of this particular bill are legitimate. Therefore, we should not rush to pass this bill, rather we should be working to find another solution so that the epidemic of online piracy is addressed in a manner that ensures innovation and free speech is protected. I have confidence that we can do this, but not as the PROTECT IP Act stands today”

SOPA also lost two of its co-sponsors. Politico reports that Representatives Ben Quayle and Lee Terry have quietly withdrawn their support for the House bill.

The various protests are still ongoing and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the list above is already outdated by the end of the day.

Although these first signs are positive, it doesn’t necessarily mean that PIPA or SOPA are now off the table. There are still many sponsors and supporters left. Both bills are still on their way to be passed in Congress, but with a little less support than before.


original article: http://torrentfreak.com/pipa-sopa-co-sponsors-drop-like-flies-120118/

 

Web protests over piracy bills while China slaps Internet curbs
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary...piracy-bills-while-China-slaps-Internet-curbs

 

+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Spot on

 

Sopa and Pipa bills postponed in US Congress!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16655272

TH

 

US doesn't gain power to censor websites they don't like. Still retains power to listen to wiretap and set up surveillance on its own citizens. Still retains power to detain citizens indefinitely without trial.

Somehow it's bittersweet. But... hooray? Our government didn't screw us over again...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Act

If only people'd cared then.

 

Do I own a website? No
Do I intend to create one or own one? No

Use the bill as toilet paper

Do you won a website? Yes

You are screwed

 

Ah, but you use websites

Quitter! Go up a couple levels, no problem.

 

This effects anyone who uses the internet. Even those using it legally. The bill would destabilize every website - literally.

Not to mention the fact that they'd be outright censoring websites, which will effect users.

 

I just hope once they bring the bill again people don't forget to retaliate back!!

 

lol @ Google now giving away all of its songs for free in China.