SOPA: Piracy, Duplicate Content and everything in between

[morestar]

Now that SOPA has spilled over in Canadian territory (http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/piracy+fight+spills+into+Canada/5710263/story.html) of which I knew it inevitably would do, I've began to look at it a little more seriously. Obviously it has to do with piracy and copyright infringement so what does that say about stolen duplicate content?

I guess now we don't need to worry about getting the so-called Google penalty related to stolen or duplicate content but now we have to worry about what happens to our websites if we're found with duplicates on it - content from other sites I mean.

Am I getting this right? Is this what SOPA is all about - stolen content?

[morestar]

Happy Friday WebProWorld.com members. I'm wondering about the SOPA act today...quite a bit actually...

So as we can tell, there's a lot of resistance to the Stop Online Piracy Act (http://www.webpronews.com/sopa-meets-massive-resistance-2011-11) which seems like is going to be passed soon and especially a lot of talk about privacy.

So since I'm not too versed in law, privacy law, computer matters related to privacy and latest or emerging news related to SOPA, other acts and privacy in general, could you all share some of what you see will be the aftermath of this Act's passing?

What do you see will happen after the act is passed? What new laws (acts) will be passed thereafter based on the passing of this one in your opinion, what do you see trend wise?

Please share!

[keyon]

I'm still scratching my head about what Google is doing themselves right now to combat piracy -- like doing a mass shutdown of all Adwords accounts within a particular niche because a few of those advertisers are selling pirated content (I had to make a special request to get reinstated).

I'm guessing SOPA would have a similar effect -- lots of innocent people getting wrongly penalized simply because their business "resembles" the work of pirates.

[HTMLBasicTutor]

Discussion about this has been going on for a few days.

Source: PlagiarismToday
SOPA bill won't make U.S. a 'repressive regime,' Democrat says (http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57325905-281/sopa-bill-wont-make-u.s-a-repressive-regime-democrat-says/)
DNS, SOPA, Content Blocking and More (http://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2011/11/15/dns-sopa-content-blocking-and-more/)
Strange bedfellows: Nancy Pelosi, Ron Paul join SOPA opposition (http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/11/strange-bedfellows-nancy-pelosi-ron-paul-join-sopa-opposition.ars)

Even Matt Cutts has has joined in:
I need your help–please. Call your congressperson? (http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/sopa-protect-ip/)

Search Engine Watch:
Google Front & Center at SOPA Piracy Hearing (http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2125948/Google-Front-Center-at-SOPA-Piracy-Hearing)

It even has it's own hash tag on Twitter: #SOPA (http://twitter.com/#!/search/%23SOPA)

[mikmik]

This act is BS for so many reasons. I just read about US jurisdiction over ARIN and therefore have legal rights to Canadian and 20 Caribbean nations.

U.S. intellectual property lobbying around the world has been well documented with new Canadian copyright legislation widely viewed as a direct consequence of years of political pressure. The new U.S. proposal takes this aggressive approach to another level by simply asserting jurisdiction over millions of Canadian registered IP addresses and domain names.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/piracy+fight+spills+into+Canada/5710263/story.html#ixzz1e82SDpzS

In some ways, PMS (Prime Minister Harper) is tough about national boundaries, and where the US should stick its nose, but in others he is a sycophant. There is action in CRTC hearings up here, and so far there seems to be some good consideration given to anti-regulation groups. I only hope this continues.

As far as this US arrogance being displayed, it is getting to people here in Canada. Alberta is of the mind to Ef You and go to Asia for our dealings in oil, and more countries are willing to distance themselves from US dealings.

This is politics - corrupt politics - all the way, acquiescing to special interest eg Hollywood and record companies and sheer power grabbing and insolence towards common sense and decency. It is a big and dangerous problem whenever the US government is involved with anything any more; there is a sense of extremism and isolationism in everything.

[deepsand]

This is politics - corrupt politics - all the way, acquiescing to special interest eg Hollywood and record companies and sheer power grabbing and insolence towards common sense and decency.
Which owe allegiance to no particular nationality, but exert control anywhere and everywhere that they can.

And, the situation is greatly exacerbated by those who insist that the technological ability to steal confers the right to do so.

This is not unique to the US.

[morestar]

I'm a little shocked, that Matt Cutts has reached out to us in this way - asking people to call congressmen etc. His post almost sounds a bit desperate and he's not even a CEO or anything...I mean what's going on here?

OK so from Matt Cutts' link we find:



They want to call the little guys “E-PARASITES,” using copyright as cover to censor whatever the heck they want. Because once you let the government start blanking out (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship#State_secrets_and_prevention_of_attenti on) parts of the Internet, then what’s to stop them from blanking out oversight of that censorship? Nothing. Just ask Australia (http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25181408-15306,00.html), which censored the internet “for the children,” but then started banning oversight of the censorship, as well as unrelated content like American anti-abortion websites.

censor what? Seriously, I can't find what's going to be censored...

OK I think I got it, thanks for the input and links guys and gals :)

This guys puts a lot of it into perspective: sopa hollywood finally gets chance break internet (https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/10/sopa-hollywood-finally-gets-chance-break-internet).

THE STOP ONLINE PIRACY ACT: SUMMARY, PROBLEMS & IMPLICATIONS (http://cdt.org/files/pdfs/SOPA%202-pager%20final.pdf)

[TrafficProducer]

Red Alert - Protect IP SOPA Bills Would KILL Alternative Media & Internet As We Know It (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96YEIelkfHM)! <<<< YouTube Video Eyezopenwide2 YouTube Channel

READ THE ARTICLE AND SPREAD THE WORD (http://theintelhub.com/2011/11/18/save-the-internet-and-boycott-these-companies/)

It'll give the government new powers to block Americans' access websites that corporations don't like. The bill would criminalize posting all sorts of standard web content -- music playing in the background of videos, footage of people dancing, kids playing video games, and posting video of people playing cover songs.

ALERT: SOPA Bill Could Kill Alternative Media (http://members.beforeitsnews.com/story/1399/497/ALERT:_SOPA_Bill_Could_Kill_A)

SOPA Causes Anonymous To Declare Operation Blackout (http://tech.li/2011/11/sopa-causes-anonymous-to-declare-operation-blackout/)

Video courtesy of American Censorship (http://americancensorship.org/)

Fight For the Future (http://fightforthefuture.org/)

PROTECT IP / SOPA Act Breaks the Interne (http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa/)t Sign against the Bill NOW!!!. Congress needs to hear from you, or this bill passes

Artists opposing the PROTECT-IP / SOPA Act (http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa/artists/). An open letter to the US Senate and House of Representatives

:( (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/show) - PROTECT IP Act of 2011 (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/show) A bill to prevent online threats to economic creativity and theft of intellectual property, and for other purposes.

Establishes a system for taking down websites that the Justice Department determines to be "dedicated to infringing activities." The DoJ or the copyright owner would be able to commence a legal action against the alleged infringer and the DoJ would be allowed to demand that search engines, social networking sites and domain name services block access to the targeted site. In some cases, action could be taken to block sites without first allowing the alleged infringer to defend themselves in court.

[noelagnote]

SOPA have good intentions. However, the Anti-SOPA also have their own reasons for opposing this bill. The privacy of internet users is at stake here.

[deepsand]

The privacy of internet users is at stake here.
Just how is that the case? :confused:

[TrafficProducer]

SOPA have good intentions. However, the Anti-SOPA also have their own reasons for opposing this bill. The privacy of internet users is at stake here.

This is also about Privacy

Save the Internet (http://www.savetheinternet.com/). Net Neutrality The Freedom of the Internet is at stake. Watch and Read NOW!! It's YOUR FREEDOM they my stop.

Save the Internet state



When we log on to the Internet, we take a lot for granted. We assume we'll be able to access any website we want, whenever we want, at the fastest speed, whether it's a corporate site or a mom-and-pop site. We assume that we can use any service we like — watch online video, listen to podcasts, send instant messages — any time we choose. What makes all these assumptions possible is Net Neutrality.

[deepsand]

SOPA has nothing to do with either privacy or 'net neutrality.

Rather, it is some supporters of SOPA who are trying to conflate multiple issues by claiming that that those who oppose SOPA are being hypocritical by supporting the FCC's efforts to ensure 'net neutrality.

[TrafficProducer]

The question is, what is is SOPA, (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA, (Protect IP), really about ? Is it not about Piracy but it is an excuse to Spy on users and close things down that the Government don't like to hear, (usually the truth), e.g. things that does not praise them and keep them in power and lots of personal wealth. :?:

[deepsand]

The question is, what is is SOPA, (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA, (Protect IP), really about ? Is it not about Piracy but it is an excuse to Spy on users ...
Nothing in SOPA/PIPA either requires or authorizes spying.


..and close things down that the Government don't like to hear ...
Not that which Government dislikes, but rather that which the entertainment industry dislikes.

[TrafficProducer]

SOPA Blackout Day January 18, 2012

Blackout SOPA Web site (http://www.blackoutsopa.org/)

and

Public Knowledge Parasite stop online piracy act (http://publicknowledge.org/e-parasite-stop-online-piracy-act)
Act Now : This Bill Seriously Screws with the Internet

Stop American Censorship (http://americancensorship.org/)
Congress is about to pass internet censorship, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. We need to kill the bill - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity.






Dear Developers,

This message is to let you know about an important initiative Tucows is taking
part in on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 that may impact you.

The proposed SOPA legislation is fundamentally flawed in how it works and the
damage it is likely to do to the Internet, which has been the greatest platform
for innovation the world has ever seen. For that reason Tucows will be joining
the blackout organized by our friends at Reddit by blacking out the Tucows
Software Download site on January 18th, 2012 from 8 AM to 8 PM EST (1300-0100 UTC).

During the 12-hour Blackout period, we will be displaying a full-screen overlay
that will obscure the Download site pages and block access to them. This overlay
will include information about why Tucows is participating in the Stop SOPA
Blackout Day.

How will this impact you?

There will be few or no user interactions and downloads from
Tucows.com/downloads during the blackout period. You will still be able to
access your accounts in the Author Resource Centre and can continue to manage
your keywords and update your products as you like, keeping in mind that normal
service and site updates will return after the 12-hour blackout period.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that our participation in the Stop
SOPA Blackout Day may cause for you, but at the same time we urge you to
consider how dangerous to all users of the Internet the SOPA legislation is if
it were to become a reality. We thank you for your continued business and
support, and we look forward to stopping SOPA in its tracks!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your listing in
Tucows.com/Downloads please let us know by emailing developer@tucows.com (http://uk.mc1216.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=developer@tucows.com)

For more information about our participation in the Stop SOPA Blackout Day, visit:

http://tucowsinc.com/news/2012/01/why-we-dont-like-sopa/

Thank you from all of us here at Tucows!



Blackout SOPA Web site (http://www.blackoutsopa.org/) Join

Public Knowledge Parasite stop online piracy act

(http://publicknowledge.org/e-parasite-stop-online-piracy-act)

[deepsand]

I am really getting tired of those who blindly parrot the crap re. SOPA/PIPA being censorship..

Get the facts folks; they are not.

Continuing to spout such nonsense simply makes you look bad, and is thus self-defeating.

Read the SOPA & PIPA Bills as actually written, rather than just swallowing what some of their detractors claim.

While they would make for bad Law, you cannot win by attacking them on false grounds.

[TrafficProducer]

Wikipedia Blackout In Anti-Piracy Law Protest (http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/wikipedia-blackout-anti-piracy-law-055902309.html) (Yahoo Sky News)


Wikipedia will black out its English-language site for 24 hours in protest at proposed US anti-piracy legislation.
If passed the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) would give content owners and the US government the power to request court orders to shut down websites associated with piracy.

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales said the act threatens the future of the internet and has said the online encyclopedia site will be shut down from 5am GMT on Wednesday.

Visitors to the site will only be able to see information about Sopa and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (Pipa).

The information will urge Wikipedia readers to contact their local congressman to vote against the bills.

Other sites leading the campaign include Reddit.com and Cheezburger.



... (see link for more (http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/wikipedia-blackout-anti-piracy-law-055902309.html))



White House officials raised concerns on Saturday about Sopa saying they believe it could make businesses on the internet vulnerable to litigation and harm legal activity and free speech.
In response, Sopa supporter News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch, said on Twitter: "So Obama has thrown in his lot with Silicon Valley paymasters who threaten all software creators with piracy, plain thievery."



Write your USA Representative
(https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml)

A list of the 15 committee members who created thisbill (http://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/me5e9/american_censorship_day_stand_up_for/)

More info on the bill at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act)

The text of the entire bill is here (http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/112%20HR%203261.pdf) (PDF Format)

Alphabetical List of Members of Parliament (http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/) United Kingdom

[deepsand]

Just what good such black-outs? They only serve to alienate the sites' users.

[TrafficProducer]

When TedTalks we should listen

YouTube Video, watch it while you can



Defend our freedom to share (or why SOPA is a bad idea)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h2dF-IsH0I

Uploaded by TEDtalksDirector (http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector)on 18 Jan 2012
http://www.ted.com (http://www.ted.com/) What does a bill like PIPA/SOPA mean to our shareable world? At the TED offices, Clay Shirky delivers a proper manifesto -- a call to defend our freedom to create, discuss, link and share, rather than passively consume.

[TrafficProducer]

SOPA Is Dead: Smith Pulls Bill (http://mashable.com/2012/01/20/sopa-is-dead-smith-pulls-bill/)

Lamar Smith, the chief sponsor of SOPA (http://mashable.com/follow/topics/stop-online-piracy-act/), said on Friday that he is pulling the bill “until there is wider agreement on a solution.”

“I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy,” Smith (R-Texas) said. “It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products.”


More at http://mashable.com/2012/01/20/sopa-is-dead-smith-pulls-bill/

(If it is dead the it is thanks to everyone who protested

I hope this doesn't, (or isn't), something for people to drop thier gaurd

[TrafficProducer]

Facebook ‘Relieved’ That SOPA Is Dead (http://mashable.com/2012/01/20/sopa-is-dead-facebook-response/)

Facebook has responded to the death of SOPA, expressing its relief that the bill has been pulled and thanking its users for their feedback.

Although Facebook didn’t go dark for SOPA, the company has expressed its opposition to the bill. On Wednesday, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg expanded on his thoughts, calling the legislation “poorly thought out


Dont drop your Guard

[TrafficProducer]

SOPA Is Gone But The US Internet Dictatorship Is The Real Problem (http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/comment/sopa-is-gone-but-the-us-internet-dictatorship-is-the-real-problem-54537)SOPA may have gone but there are still laws and policies which impose US standards on the rest of the world, says Eric Doyle

Look Out, what will they try to restrict Freedoms next?

[deepsand]

Enough with the hysterical hype.

There's nothing in the cited article about restricting freedoms, just a European bitching about so-called US control of the 'net.

Wake up, people. France censors the web in France; Germany, in Germany. That's just a few of many who do so.

Every country has control of its own Border Gateway Routers; control of the DNS Zones are likewise distributed. The only thing that the US controls at this point is the Root Zone.