As I see it, the law seems to contain a huge grey area on what it can be applied to. That is, as far as I see, the main critique. It could be used against a LOT OF things, which are not pircary or anything the like, but some something any party in power can censor, due to the extreme vagueness of the law. Also, it covers the old problem: who watches the watchmen? Vague as the text is it seems all too easy to form a censorship, and suddenly the basic concept of "guilty" is turned upside down. The normal idea of a free society is, that something is allowed until someone proves it does a damage, and something is illegal because someone proofs that. With this the entire system is turned upside down. Content is censored and the content owner/creator must prove his "innocence". Guilty by suspicion. Its an evil and wrong idea altogether!
The simple fact is, piracy, child pornography and other stuff are ALREADY illegal. So why make a new law on something that is forbidden already? Information is power, and how powerful the internet can be, can be seen in the "Arabian Spring".
We are manipulated by the so called "free press/media" by and large already, and getting control over the internet is the information battlefield of the present and future, for it is the last free gap in a highly streamlined information system. Such a law potentially allows a censorship of everything under a most fishy pretense. Unfortunately Europe is already lacking a lot of freedom and has a lot of censorship. My own country, Germany, alas in the forefront. Always under the banner of "protecting the people". As usual. I really hope Americans fight for their freedom, for it is where much that will matter globally will decided, for good or ill. I hope you win this fight for freedom in your country!
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
It is funny how the US goverment complain that China, North Korea and Cuba restrict the internet but then don't mind doing the same themselves.
Yes, but you see the US of A does it to protect democracy, freedom of speach, and human rights. China and NK are doing it to block these. So it's all ok.
This is just another attempt by rich corporations to make everything proprietary. Once they make it illegal they will label every thing they can as copyright protected and charge you for it. Remember they tried this a few times before first with Rap music in the early 90s, then they went after filesharing. Greedy scumbags. Of course this should be stopped, just vote against anyone who says they are for this.
Actually only 3 senators are for this, all of them recieved more money from record companies than anyone else, they are bought and paid for and are mouthpeices for the Music industry lobby.
In a world where children and grandmothers are brought to court for illegally downloading music, it is time to take a second look at how the Internet works.
I fundamentally agree with the need to stop piracy, completely, but agree that this bill feels too open-ended and ripe for abuse. I hope as it is revised the scope and implied powers become narrower, and even if it ends up being only 10% effective, that is progress in my mind.
Those arguing that hackers and other "experts" will always find a way are right of course, but the reality is that recreational online piracy is so prevalent because it is just so very convenient.
cant american learn to mind its own bloody business! just go away! leave the rest of the world alone!
rather than that, they need to stop pandering to the demands of the music industry etc.. that is trying to force websites to not host music downloads or streaming sites, without paying them through the nose for the priveledge..
Hasn't Obama cancelled the whole thing yesterday already ? That was posted on engaget ?? Everybody stood against SOPA so he pulled it back ? Oo
It was more the fact that Google and Face Book and some of the other massive funders of lobbists opposed it, in its current form. Big Content isn't used to being opposed effectively, so they under estimated how many politicians their opposition already had in their own pockets. Make no mistake, SOPA *will* be back in one form or another. Once certain behind the scenes deals are made.
All of the popular outrage/outcry was much sound and fury, which signifies *nothing* as far as our Dear Leaders are concerned. The only thing that motivates them is power, and the "contributions" from the various lobby groups, that allow them to gain and maintain that power. Everything else is a shadow play, of illusion and delusion.
If this shit goes trough you will be the laughing stock of china. Then it will be them who can laugh about your corporate run state where corporations can block any content at whim with madeup accusations.
SOPA would not exist if these congressmen/lawmakers were not bought and paid for by the 1% ie (big business). The government we have is owned by big money. The ones with the most money have the most control. Doesn't matter if you are a democrate or republican, they are being controlled by corporations pulling their puppet strings.
People always get up in arms about who is the president, however what people don't notice is the true power lays with the Congress of the USA. In Nov of 10, the tea party wave voted for less government and the GOP took control of the house. Did it change anything? Well just look at this SOPA brought up in the congress. It's back as usual in the congress where talk and promises are cheap and money controls all.
Piracy is not bad. Businessmen not figuring a way out to profit off of free access to your IP that has billions of users/fans is a joke.
There are other ways to make money than direct sales: if you can't figure them out, then you deserve to go bankrupt.
--When you resubscribe to SWG, an 18 yearold Stripper finds Jesus, gives up stripping, and moves with a rolex reverend to Hawaii. --In MMORPG's l007 is the opiate of the masses. --The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence! --CCP could cut off an Eve player's fun bits, and that player would say that it was good CCP did that.
Piracy is not bad. Businessmen not figuring a way out to profit off of free access to your IP that has billions of users/fans is a joke.
There are other ways to make money than direct sales: if you can't figure them out, then you deserve to go bankrupt.
Basically what I said in my post. If they spent the money they spent fighting piracy to adopt new ways to distribute their content they would make more money.
A few people brought this up in the off topic, but the thread was locked for being political. Now it is up for discussion in News Discussion?
Funny. I guess what's good for the Goose is not good for the Gander.
we have a winner.
how many people here where given warnings for political content being agaist the rules of conduct and now they post this on thier front page news.
bunch of hypocrites.
+1
Things like SOPA and PIPA affect mmorpg gaming directly so should not be 'shunned off' as a 'polical'. It is not talk about War or health care or taxes after all.
Besies giving warning and closing off topics and then creating news by yourselfs just because it got 'loud and fashionable in internetz' is LAME and make mmorpg.com creditibility BAD thing.
So mmorpg.com staff , watch out next time. Review your policies if necessary.
A few people brought this up in the off topic, but the thread was locked for being political. Now it is up for discussion in News Discussion?
Funny. I guess what's good for the Goose is not good for the Gander.
we have a winner.
how many people here where given warnings for political content being agaist the rules of conduct and now they post this on thier front page news.
bunch of hypocrites.
+1
Things like SOPA and PIPA affect mmorpg gaming directly so should not be 'shunned off' as a 'polical'. It is not talk about War or health care or taxes after all.
Besies giving warning and closing off topics and then creating news by yourselfs just because it got 'loud and fashionable in internetz' is LAME and make mmorpg.com creditibility BAD thing.
So mmorpg.com staff , watch out next time. Review your policies if necessary.
Yeah, I was the first to post about this here weeks ago and although I wasn't given any type of punishment my thread was locked for being too 'political'. After several PM's between a MMORPG staff member and myself and several others(Who will remain nameless to protect their privacy) I was told it was too political in nature and would never be allowed here. Now here we are discussing it in the News Section?
A few people brought this up in the off topic, but the thread was locked for being political. Now it is up for discussion in News Discussion?
Funny. I guess what's good for the Goose is not good for the Gander.
we have a winner.
how many people here where given warnings for political content being agaist the rules of conduct and now they post this on thier front page news.
bunch of hypocrites.
+1
Things like SOPA and PIPA affect mmorpg gaming directly so should not be 'shunned off' as a 'polical'. It is not talk about War or health care or taxes after all.
Besies giving warning and closing off topics and then creating news by yourselfs just because it got 'loud and fashionable in internetz' is LAME and make mmorpg.com creditibility BAD thing.
So mmorpg.com staff , watch out next time. Review your policies if necessary.
Yeah, I was the first to post about this here weeks ago and although I wasn't given any type of punishment my thread was locked for being too 'political'. After several PM's between a MMORPG staff member and myself and several others(Who will remain nameless to protect their privacy) I was told it was too political in nature and would never be allowed here. Now here we are discussing it in the News Section?
Bren
It's the second news article on SOPA. They made the first shortly after those threads got locked. I'd say those threads helped bring attention to the subject on this site and how it could effect it. Add in emails, all the other gaming sites voicing their opinions, and news articles that are all over the place. MMORPG.com is still sticking to their guns and these two news topics are the only place to discuss SOPA.
The fact that they came to realize just how important these bills are is a good thing and fueling discussion on it/ them is great.
Comments
As I see it, the law seems to contain a huge grey area on what it can be applied to. That is, as far as I see, the main critique. It could be used against a LOT OF things, which are not pircary or anything the like, but some something any party in power can censor, due to the extreme vagueness of the law. Also, it covers the old problem: who watches the watchmen? Vague as the text is it seems all too easy to form a censorship, and suddenly the basic concept of "guilty" is turned upside down. The normal idea of a free society is, that something is allowed until someone proves it does a damage, and something is illegal because someone proofs that. With this the entire system is turned upside down. Content is censored and the content owner/creator must prove his "innocence". Guilty by suspicion. Its an evil and wrong idea altogether!
The simple fact is, piracy, child pornography and other stuff are ALREADY illegal. So why make a new law on something that is forbidden already? Information is power, and how powerful the internet can be, can be seen in the "Arabian Spring".
We are manipulated by the so called "free press/media" by and large already, and getting control over the internet is the information battlefield of the present and future, for it is the last free gap in a highly streamlined information system. Such a law potentially allows a censorship of everything under a most fishy pretense. Unfortunately Europe is already lacking a lot of freedom and has a lot of censorship. My own country, Germany, alas in the forefront. Always under the banner of "protecting the people". As usual. I really hope Americans fight for their freedom, for it is where much that will matter globally will decided, for good or ill. I hope you win this fight for freedom in your country!
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
Way I see it, SOPA = American Propoganda Overkill System
Vote up APOS!
Yes, but you see the US of A does it to protect democracy, freedom of speach, and human rights. China and NK are doing it to block these. So it's all ok.
No, wait...that doesn't sound right somehow...
STOP SOPA!!!!
This is just another attempt by rich corporations to make everything proprietary. Once they make it illegal they will label every thing they can as copyright protected and charge you for it. Remember they tried this a few times before first with Rap music in the early 90s, then they went after filesharing. Greedy scumbags. Of course this should be stopped, just vote against anyone who says they are for this.
Actually only 3 senators are for this, all of them recieved more money from record companies than anyone else, they are bought and paid for and are mouthpeices for the Music industry lobby.
In a world where children and grandmothers are brought to court for illegally downloading music, it is time to take a second look at how the Internet works.
I fundamentally agree with the need to stop piracy, completely, but agree that this bill feels too open-ended and ripe for abuse. I hope as it is revised the scope and implied powers become narrower, and even if it ends up being only 10% effective, that is progress in my mind.
Those arguing that hackers and other "experts" will always find a way are right of course, but the reality is that recreational online piracy is so prevalent because it is just so very convenient.
cant american learn to mind its own bloody business! just go away! leave the rest of the world alone!
rather than that, they need to stop pandering to the demands of the music industry etc.. that is trying to force websites to not host music downloads or streaming sites, without paying them through the nose for the priveledge..
It was more the fact that Google and Face Book and some of the other massive funders of lobbists opposed it, in its current form. Big Content isn't used to being opposed effectively, so they under estimated how many politicians their opposition already had in their own pockets. Make no mistake, SOPA *will* be back in one form or another. Once certain behind the scenes deals are made.
All of the popular outrage/outcry was much sound and fury, which signifies *nothing* as far as our Dear Leaders are concerned. The only thing that motivates them is power, and the "contributions" from the various lobby groups, that allow them to gain and maintain that power. Everything else is a shadow play, of illusion and delusion.
I think the best example of this legislation would be if say Google turned off their entire service for 24 hours.
Wikipedia is doing it, but imagine the impact and outcry through the world if the most famous search engine stopped for a day.
Then it will be them who can laugh about your corporate run state where corporations can block any content at whim with madeup accusations.
Pi*1337/100 = 42
SOPA would not exist if these congressmen/lawmakers were not bought and paid for by the 1% ie (big business). The government we have is owned by big money. The ones with the most money have the most control. Doesn't matter if you are a democrate or republican, they are being controlled by corporations pulling their puppet strings.
People always get up in arms about who is the president, however what people don't notice is the true power lays with the Congress of the USA. In Nov of 10, the tea party wave voted for less government and the GOP took control of the house. Did it change anything? Well just look at this SOPA brought up in the congress. It's back as usual in the congress where talk and promises are cheap and money controls all.
Anyone else want to blame METALLICA for SOPA?!!!
Interesting.
A few people brought this up in the off topic, but the thread was locked for being political. Now it is up for discussion in News Discussion?
Funny. I guess what's good for the Goose is not good for the Gander.
Piracy is not bad. Businessmen not figuring a way out to profit off of free access to your IP that has billions of users/fans is a joke.
There are other ways to make money than direct sales: if you can't figure them out, then you deserve to go bankrupt.
--When you resubscribe to SWG, an 18 yearold Stripper finds Jesus, gives up stripping, and moves with a rolex reverend to Hawaii.
--In MMORPG's l007 is the opiate of the masses.
--The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence!
--CCP could cut off an Eve player's fun bits, and that player would say that it was good CCP did that.
Basically what I said in my post. If they spent the money they spent fighting piracy to adopt new ways to distribute their content they would make more money.
Piracy its an awfull thing,
American politics, greed, control, Sony, ... I could go on.
we have a winner.
how many people here where given warnings for political content being agaist the rules of conduct and now they post this on thier front page news.
bunch of hypocrites.
Damn right it should be. The MPAA and RIAA spent over a half billion dollars to buy both political parties for that crap.
Of course SOPA and PIPA (another piece of legislation trash trying to be push atm as well, it is more or less same as SOPA) should be totally trashed.
+1
Things like SOPA and PIPA affect mmorpg gaming directly so should not be 'shunned off' as a 'polical'. It is not talk about War or health care or taxes after all.
Besies giving warning and closing off topics and then creating news by yourselfs just because it got 'loud and fashionable in internetz' is LAME and make mmorpg.com creditibility BAD thing.
So mmorpg.com staff , watch out next time. Review your policies if necessary.
Yeah, I was the first to post about this here weeks ago and although I wasn't given any type of punishment my thread was locked for being too 'political'. After several PM's between a MMORPG staff member and myself and several others(Who will remain nameless to protect their privacy) I was told it was too political in nature and would never be allowed here. Now here we are discussing it in the News Section?
Bren
while(horse==dead)
{
beat();
}
Won't be watching E3 this year either since the ESA is supporting SOPA/PIPA
E3 can die in a fire now.
"The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand."
- Lewis Thomas
I like pie.
(edited post, can't delete)
It's the second news article on SOPA. They made the first shortly after those threads got locked. I'd say those threads helped bring attention to the subject on this site and how it could effect it. Add in emails, all the other gaming sites voicing their opinions, and news articles that are all over the place. MMORPG.com is still sticking to their guns and these two news topics are the only place to discuss SOPA.
The fact that they came to realize just how important these bills are is a good thing and fueling discussion on it/ them is great.