Congress is considering legislation that would impose regulations of the internet that could amount to outright censorships. One is called the Stop Online Piracy Act, which is before the House. The other: the Protect IP Act (PIPA), which is before the Senate. Voting begins next Tuesday, Jan.24. Today is a day of protest all over the web, including at Wikipedia, which has gone dark for the day.
The legislation is supported mainly by large media companies, including the record industry, that want to stop illegal online downloading and streaming of their entertainment products, like TV shows, movies and music. Read more here. If you're unfomfortable with all the power thiis legislation would give companies to shut down web sites, join the millions of people who are letting Congress know how they feel. Go here and just say no.
If you need some persuasion, here's a snarky Tweet posted today by Jonathan Lamy, a senior VP at the Recording Industry Association of America, a staunch supporter of the legislation: "After Wikipedia blackrout[sic], somewhere, a student today is doing original research and getting his/her facts straight. Perish the thought," Read more here.
Should we be able to download a movie, song or tv show for free, I don't want more laws but kinda wonder if we should pay for the entertainment at our finger tips. Someone is spending time and money to produce this stuff and then others just grab it for nothing. If everyone was grabbing free drinks at a bar the bar would surely go under. Now that said, I am okay with the big giants of music to fall, I think bands can get away from the old model, you don't need the majors to make a record. However, film and tv do need that backing and those mediums cost a lot more to produce than an album, chinese democracy excluded, damn near a million a song.
Posted by: Green | January 18, 2012 at 05:24 PM
This objection is more about the breadth of the law, not its spirit, and the potential for punitive abuse.
Posted by: tim finn | January 18, 2012 at 06:45 PM
This amounts to a type of institutional control. Consumers are perceived to be out of control and the industry handlers are worried. So, we get a legislative boost that will allow them legal avenues to make an example out of a few problem children. There will be no stopping "everyone". Just like latin immigrants. They can't deport everyone. They can't stop the internet(without draconian censorship at least). The music industry is just a microcosm of what is happening globally. Somewhere in a grass hut in Asia, a child is no longer content to send in their penny and wait for the free introductory offer of 10 cassettes. Good luck World, everyone wants to be heard...
Posted by: Professor | January 19, 2012 at 09:09 AM
I don't think it will be implemented or pass because there too many people opposing this bill.
Posted by: Reylan | Labor Posters | January 24, 2012 at 08:56 PM