I'm sure a ton of you have heard about SOPA. It is pretty much taking over every single major website on the internet (and my email box, holy Celestia!).
I usually avoid political issues, but as a website owner, I think it's an obligation to help fight this. Have some information:
What is it?
1.)------- SOPA Will be used to block websites that have any link at all to any type of copyright content. The ip address will straight up be unavailable and blacklisted. This isn't limited to the actual site creator though. If someone throws a link to a piece of pirated material in the comments section of a post on EQD for example, it gives the government the ability to add it to the list of "rogue websites". A pony PMV would be grounds for shutdown.
2.)------- Streaming copywritten work will now be a felony. Things like "let's play Minecraft" or anything at all involving music in the background that isn't free use will suddenly come with the chance at jailtime. Though these are already technically illegal, the punishment will be vastly increased.
Who will it affect?
Pretty much every website on the internet will be effected by this in some way. Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, EQD, they will all be 100% liable for what their users post. The current system works off of take down notices and reports. SOPA will just straight up block the IP address
What can you do about it?
The massive outcry against this bill on internet has hopefully influenced it's demise somewhat, but
you can help by tossing your two cents. Hit up this website and fill out the submission form. Read up on it, and spread the word. The internet IS freedom . Anyone can speak their mind to the masses. Get out there and make it known!
New banner by: Cakepatell
373 comments:
I was hoping something about this would pop up on a site this big.
ReplyDeleteYeah, doesn't sound like very much fun for us...
ReplyDeletePONIES
ReplyDeleteSOMEPONY WAKE ME UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE
ReplyDeleteI just hope this wont come to pass.... cant do much of everything here in Sweden but i can just see how this could effectively kill the pony fandom and half of the internet in one way or an other if it passes D:
ReplyDeleteI don't see how anyone could vote "Yes" to something like this outside of ignorance.
ReplyDeleteFor pony! Net neutrality is the future!
ReplyDeleteOf all the worse things that could happen. THIS IS THE. WOST. POSSIBLE. THING.
ReplyDeleteThere's NO way this is going to pass. I haven't seen anyone except stuffy, full-of-blatant-lies politicians support this, and if it did pass.. the internet is a BIG place. They wouldn't be able to keep it all under control. They'd give up eventually.
ReplyDeleteHmm. By blocking the websites is that only in the US?
ReplyDeleteLiving in the UK not much I can do but if the US goes dark in terms of generating stuff there will be a huge hole in the web.
Also it sets a dangerous precedent which other countries can follow.
I thought this was over with! I thought we took care of this just yesterday.
ReplyDeleteBut apparently, according t the website, a round two is happening, and it's worse than what we just took care of...
...Fuck.
Sopa and it's ilk are indeed worth fighting against. Unfortunately us Foreign Bronies can only look on and hope the US government sees sense in this (though I have signed at least 1 international petition), otherwise the Internet may well become a lost cause. Sad and worrying thoughts indeed. Here's hoping the world sees sense.
ReplyDeleteI have just "signed". We can't let this to become a reality >___<
ReplyDelete@Mint Chip That is the single most fitting thing that could be said right now.
ReplyDeleteThere was already massive opposition in the first hearing of the bill :P
ReplyDeleteBut, nonetheless, go submit the form anyways if you haven't already just to be safe.
Let the Government do as they like. If the bill passes, then they will have no choice but to face the consequences from the residents of the country itself.
ReplyDeleteIt's your choice, Mr.Government.
Dare to try to restrict the government, and you will suffer the consequences from your own people hating and betraying you for playing God and trying to control the internet.
"The ip address will straight up be unavailable and blacklisted. "
ReplyDeleteTHis is incorrect. The domain will be blocked, removed from the DNS registry, but the IP will be usable, if you know it.
i had to pitch in, it would be devastating to see some of my favorite websites(EQD for one) get banned.
ReplyDeleteHehe, sopa means garbage in swedish
ReplyDeleteThis will never pass and actually work.
ReplyDeletewhoops, i meant "dare to restrict the internet"
ReplyDeleteOh not you too Seth.
ReplyDelete>:|
This bill won't go frikking anywhere, none of them ever do.
This kind of bill has been tried again and again over the past few years and CongressMen themselves are against it.
It's only the ignorant people who will believe it do any good if it passes.
This will never get past the head committee and won't even be heard by the Congress floor.
.... Of all the things that could possibly happen this is. The. Worst. Possible. Thing!!! I mean it this time!
ReplyDeleteThe very idea that this is even being considered is frightening. I find it scary as a college graduate with a degree in Information Technology that individuals who are completely clueless about the Internet are the ones aiming to push this thing through.
ReplyDeleteThere is an option for people outside the US to sign this (just in case anypony missed it), the button is just under the form to fill. I can imagine Hasbro may not be too happy about this, seeing as I, and all my friends who are into this show, discovered it through youtube :s
ReplyDeleteI would honestly like to see someone give their pathetic and idiotic reasons for LEGITIMATELY supporting the bill.
ReplyDeleteITS A CRIEM, HERP DERP
uhhh guys... this bill is actually unconstitutional. Something like this passing is physically impossible so long as the constitution remains in place, and the constitution isn't going anywhere anytime soon. So just chill and let the government call these people out on their idiocies.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like it's gonna pass.
ReplyDeleteI'll sign anyway.
Oh crap I was betan to the worst possible thing comment :P probably should read the comments before I post, huh
ReplyDeleteThese bills - actually the same damn bill, just with a name change and minor additions - get proposed with amazing frequency in the US. This is at least the second year I've seen it happen again, and again, and again...
ReplyDeleteThey usually get shut down. But for only one reason: people immediately spam, call, mail and harass everyone involved in the government business to shut it down.
Otherwise these things always have a ton of money and a ton of political support behind them, with obvious fat-cat interests behind them. Zero exposure from the media, of course, if not outright attempts at censorship of activism in turn.
Please do your part. Doesn't matter if you're in the US or not.
http://demandprogress.org/
http://americancensorship.org/
Fight the powers that threaten our precious internet with Love and Tolerance!
ReplyDeleteI really, really, hope this doesn't pass, but there are some awfully big corporations backing it....
ReplyDeleteGreat big brother is becoming a reality. Time to start learning super hacker skills and undermine the authorities. What we need to do is find a way to create our own internet run by civilians on private servers via some sort of new wireless tech that can't be blocked or traced by the government.
ReplyDeleteTHIS.IS.THE.WORST.THIN-
ReplyDeleteShit someone already did it...
But seriously, the internet is totes important and losing it would suck.
This crap better not be passed, if so EVERYONE
WILL BE MAJORLY SCREWED.
Oh my goodness, I hope someone will talk some sense into those US government people about this.
THE INTERNET is where I can't be judged about what I do,watch or say.It gives me an important thing to look forward to...
Wake me up when November ends
ReplyDeleteYou'd think that the government would put a little bit of the effort to instead of wasting the resources on this Internet censor, find something more productive to do.
Threw in my two cents. This bs better not pass.
ReplyDelete@Mike actually there's another bill that's supposed to blacklist websites no matter where they are in the world and effectively censor the whole internet. When that happens we are all doomed.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see this info's spreading around the internet. This bill could have the power to annihilate free speech if used improperly. School's always been my priority, but if this bill gets much worse, I might just have to get involved against it.
ReplyDeleteFor anyone who also has the time to read the actual bill and make their own educated conclusions, here's a link:
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/show
The worst part is that despite how many people are opposing it, they are actually "banning" people who disagree with the bill from having any kind of say in the matter.
ReplyDeleteAnd to those saying it only affects US sites, your wrong. It will actually block all non-US sites from being viewed in the US.
It's extremely annoying as a British person who is a brony an fan of tgwtg, abridging and has to wait month for american TV show which wont even be available on catch up services, I have to sit here and can do nothing to help PLEASE PLEASE if your an american citizen do all you can to stop this.
ReplyDeleteSurely this infringes upon first amendment rights... If in the unlikely event this is passed, the supreme court will undoubtedly rule it unconstitutional.
ReplyDelete"A Pony PMV"
ReplyDeleteA pony Pony Music Video? Might want to fix that. Heh heh. But yeah, this is all bullshit and we need to rise up against it.
For freedom!
For the internet!
FOR PONIES!
If you live in the United States email or call your congressman and tell them to vote no. That's what I did.
ReplyDeleteI know people are cynical about politics but it works.
Post this on your facebook guys
ReplyDeletei'm from Mexico but i signed under the
ReplyDelete"i'm not in this country" option
if this were to pass all of my favorite websites would dissapear
@Mike
ReplyDeleteZOMG; there's another Mike!!!
Darn it, I should probably change my screen name to something more original, like Mike#1
What the fu..foal?
ReplyDeleteI dont live in the US and the A but this is ridiculus!
Who on this wolrd comes up with such an idea?
I mean seriously ?
I live in Germany .. I encounter very stupid things very frequently ... but this...?
How would they even try to force the law?
Those people need to visit kindergarden again ... they could learn something.... GOSH!
Trying to bring harsh law on the internet will NEVER work! Do you guys have ANY IDEA how much stuff on the internet is fan work of major companys ips? Damn near everything! If this bill passes, the internet will die in a matter of weeks, we have the freedom to hear information that isn't top secret, Ponies sure aren't a top secret military plan, and neither is content from providers such as Chuggaconroy or TGWTG.com. I would go on, but I have college tomorrow.
ReplyDelete@Flutterfan
ReplyDeleteWhere can you get their numbers? I might just do this.
@Mike
ReplyDeleteThey would block websites hosted outside the country too, meaning you would lose the US audience.
Shit like this is why I HATE my country. It makes me wonder what America will be like in a few years....
ReplyDeleteI don't usually cuss, but what the fuck are they trying to do? Agreed with HeroInferno, this would KILL the internet. Like, make it die a terrible death. Fucking hate Washington sometimes.Buncha over paid morons.
ReplyDelete@ZAquanimus
ReplyDeleteIn an ideal world, yes, this would be laughed out of Congress.
But there is a chance that this could pass, and there is no way we can risk that happening.
I have signed this thing SO many times, and I have written so many letters, e-mails, and PHONE CALLS URGING For this bill to be killed. This bill needs to die, or else the internet will become SO tightly bound, it's basic purpose will become null and void. Honestly, who does the government think they're fooling?!
ReplyDeleteEven though Mike HAS pointed out that it will only effect Websites hosted in the US, that's still a big chunk of the websites most of us here use anyways, including, if I'm not mistaken, THIS website. (someone feel free to prove me wrong here). And THAT will only lead to OTHER countries passing THEIR laws trying to censorship websites hosted in THEIR countries.
Censorship, in this case, can, and will, lead to catastrophic results. This is how the world ends. The end of the World Wide Web.
Dammit, I thought this was done. Signed it again, I got a "response" from my representative the first time.
ReplyDelete@Unknown
ReplyDeleteBut it might take forever; like prohibition.
As far as I know, Obama has promised to veto the bill. The bill could also be challenged on Constitutional grounds, but I'm not sure. And I'm not sure how the SC would handle this if a case on this matter reached them (The court did recently uphold that "corporate personhood" thing, right?)
ReplyDeleteThe only reason this bill keeps coming back is because they think that they will sneak it past the public one day and get it passed.
ReplyDeleteThere will be no end to fighting bills like these, but that's a small price to pay to protect the right to freedom of speech, preserve the freedom of the internet, and promote the growth of this fantastic network that has brought millions together, put thousands in work, and given hundreds of small businesses a leg-up in today's competitive business world.
Just so you all know, this will affect websites everywhere, in and out of the USA. If the bill gets passed, two of the first websites taken down will be a Russian social networking site and a Chinese media site.
ReplyDelete@kamiskewl Not true. Every bill is reviewed by the Judicial Branch to see if it is constitutional. Next it is allowed to be voted upon by congress(which it has been once already, being rejected). I don't remember if this is applicable to bills, but I believe that a super majority of 67(66?) of the 100 senators must agree to the bill. Then the bill is passed to the Executive Branch(the president!), where it has been stated by Obama that he will veto it, if it is passed.
ReplyDeleteOnce it is vetoed it must go through congress...again.
In case you didn't see already, the first round had 53 against the bill, so I think we're in the clear. Still. For the love of Luna. Sign that petition thing!
Looking at this realistically there *is* a "chance" this could happen but also realistically there is no way in hell that this website would stay blocked permanently.
ReplyDelete1. its only a fanbase it would be like targeting the old Star trekkies for being illegals
2. since a majority of the world now as it seems consist of bronies there have to be at least a couple good hackers out there who could easily undo that ban. ( I have a few friends myself who could easily fix that {unfortunately they are not Bronies})
PONIES FOREVER!
Something else I don't get about this bill is why it targets fan content too. They're pretty much saying "You drew a picture of a Hasbro owned pony in MSpaint! You get 5 years in jail and a lawsuit for 100 grand!"
ReplyDeleteI've also been told they can overwrite Obama veto with enough votes and with the atrocious amount of money they're pumping into this with bribing and such, it's looking really bad.
EVERYBODY
ReplyDeleteSend letters to your senators and congressmen, telling them that you DO NOT want this to pass.
http://action.theeca.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5006
@ZAquanimus
ReplyDeleteComments like this irritate me to no end, and they are exactly the reason that our government is able to have so much control over us.
You do realize the reason these bills never pass is because we stir up such a fuss over it. If everyone had your outlook on it and just sat back and said "meh, it won't happen", it WOULD get passed, and we'd all be fucked!
Having such a lazy viewpoint is never a good strategy when involved in your country's politics.
I'm wondering, who exactly would benefit from this? I'm all for fighting piracy, but such an over-the-top reaction to it is only going to shut down a great deal of the interweb. Blocking things like LPs and PMVs isn't going to make people buy more of anything, since using electronic media in this way isn't nearly the same thing as piracy. Attack illegal downloading sites all you want, but what profit is there in killing the artists?
ReplyDeleteI kinda want to see this law pass, just to see it blow up in the faces of everyone backing it up. Many corporations will be severely hurt and can even be shut down, more people will have no jobs and the Government will be overthrown, if something doesn't kill this bill first.
ReplyDeleteIf anything along the lines of this ever passes somepony is going to increase the moons population.
ReplyDeleteAnd "Holy Celestia"? hmph.
(I would sign this if I could)
if they pass it, there will be over 100 million people with torches, guns and others, getting the job of taking the government out by the next day. they cant risk it. if it will pass, waves of waves of nerds, geeks, trekkies, bronies, whoever uses the internet, will storm the capital the next day, everyone will be yellin: ZERG RUSH!!!
ReplyDeleteWorld War III coming up...
ReplyDeleteEver thing of some where other than the moon?
ReplyDeleteDear Congress, Fuck You i have rights.
ReplyDelete1st Amendment-
CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
HOW STUPID CAN YOU GET!? i mean seriously Just because Congress is Congress does not give them the right to do whatever the hell they want.
This is unconstitutional. It can't and shouldn't pass. As if that weren't enough, this would kill us as a community. We have multiple wars going on, an economy that's in the shitter, and an all time high percentage of unemployment.
ReplyDeleteWhy are they worried about this?
@Mike
ReplyDeleteHere is the way to find your congressional representative.
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
@marioandsonic
ReplyDeleteIn an ideal world.. -_-
There have been censorship bills like this proposed multiple times in the past.
At least twice in the past year.
None have even made it to the Congress floor.
And in addition, Obama has promised to veto the bill if it reaches his desk.
I thought I'd never have to get involved in politics but apparently as an adult it cannot be avoided.
ReplyDelete@Killingspreedoom
ReplyDeleteI'd be there in my red uniform screaming "FOR THE NEW LUNAR REPUBLIC" with my obi wan collectible light saber, charging the at the front of the pack.
internet should organise a "sopa day" where all the sites who would be affected by this should just shut down for a day and put up a "call your congressdroid" type page. All of them. Including google, facebook, twitter, even the big ones like EQD ;-) (Speaking as a gmail user that would be seriously inconvenient, but that's the point.)
ReplyDelete@Lemonite
ReplyDeleteLike I've stated before.
These kinds of bills have been brought up in Congress countless times before and cut down before the public even heard word of them.
There have been two attempts at a censorship bill in the past year alone.
The difference this time is that it's highly publicized.
And Obama himself has promised to veto the bill if it reaches his desk for some absurd reason.
@Nine
ReplyDeleteIt's all about government fat-cats trying to tighten their grip on us. I may sound like some crazy conspiracy theorist, but it's true.
The ONLY defense we have against things like this is our voice. As long as Americans continue to make themselves be hard, we can stop things like this from happening.
The day Americans stop voicing their concerns to our government is the day we lose our freedom completely.
@ZAquanimus
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to rage and tell you you're wrong, as I honestly am not sure if your statement is true or not.
I sincerely doubt, however, that a bill like this would EVER go unnoticed by the public.
Do not take this matter lightly friends. While some of this is overblown, to assume that the people that control the levers of governance are kind enough and competent enough to realize how bad an idea this is, would be foolish. Call and/or Email your congressman and senators. Tell them what you think of this Bill and remind them that you can and will vote against them if they decided to take this hard line against the freedom of the Internet and by proxy Ponies.
ReplyDeleteYou can leave out the Internet part if you like, but it will help clarify for them what you mean as it is unlikely that your Senators and Congressmen/women are Bronies.
@BorgiaBronyControl... They are worried that we may talk to each other and realize that our government is fucked. They need to keep us stupid by limiting our ability to transmit ideas. So what better way to do that than to disguised it in some sort of copyright law that has nothing to do with losing money for the copyright holders. In fact I think the companies that make use of internet media should be thinking of new marketing strategies to make money rather than the government stepping in on their behalf.
ReplyDeleteWhat the Buck, are they actually still going to try and do this? This is just disgusting, they will not only cripple the Pony Fandom, but most of what the internet is about! It's going to put a stop to creativity more then actual Piracy.
ReplyDeleteThere is no good outcome for this, if it passes there would probly be a revolt against the US government, the internet is a massive place!
A full on Pony invasion is needed! For England! I mean For Ponies!!!
Hey did this site join up?
ReplyDeleteAlso, watch out, the government as done sneakier bills, that also got blasted, but the thing is that if alot of media and freedom sites are busy looking at something like this, they may not pay attention to a bill with a little fine print that does something similar, or something even crazier, like giving the government free warrant-less access to a persons internet activity for 6-18 months. That by the way, was included in a pornography and safety whatever act bill thing a few months back.
I knew bills like this will affect our Bronyism, and I do not like one bit of it. Pony fan-artists to big sites like 4chan and Tumblr are on the move to promote the website EqD linked...
ReplyDeleteI am certainty (in Lambdadelta's name) that these bills will NOT pass, because this is so not what the United States is about. (At least in my view!)
They are taking this Protect IP thing WAAAAY to far. Not only will it put tens of thousands of people out of jobs (which millions of people in the US do not have jobs already), but that will also cause (possible) protests, database attacks (YARR HARR!), and our economy widening the already massive hole of debt we are in.
ReplyDeleteThis bill will give the US a horribad name. Signed with an iron finger.
Nopony should count on a successful veto from the President. I'm not saying he won't do it, I'm saying that Congress has the power to trump his veto with a huge majority vote, and I think that Congress is more than corrupt enough to do that unless the public eye is watching them like a hawk. No greedy politician wants to be seen taking bribes, after all.
ReplyDeleteIf this bill gets passed, then I'll personally march on over to Washington and join the masses of protesters.
if the internet gets shut down ponies will spill out into the streets in a massive uprising and march upon the capital building waving banners of rainbows, suns and moons!
ReplyDeleteUgh... Can't we go more than a week without some group of idiots trying to shut down the internet? It's quite repetitive.
ReplyDeleteSpecifically on how this affects MLP.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to correct me if I'm wrong but would this law really affect us? I'm not saying the law isn't bad but I don't think it's the apocalypse that everyone's making it out to be if it passes.
Streaming episodes or uploading it on YouTube is already illegal we're just fortunate that the Hub/Hasbro/Discovery turns a blind eye to it.
So if this law passes what would change? Even if the penalties are raised the Hub/Hasbro/Discovery would still have to file a complaint, file charges and they've given no indication that they would do that.
What I'm saying is that this law raises the penalties for copyright infringement (blockin a website, making it a felony) but doesn't make it MORE likely that the Hub would interfere with us.
i just sent a strongly worded letter warning them of the love and tolerance they would get from the bronies if this passes.
ReplyDeleteTHEY WILL NOT TAKE OUR PONIES AWAY!!
@Flutterfan
ReplyDeleteIt's not because of what this law does in and of itself, but because of the mere concept of the government having global moderation on the Internet. It's flat out wrong and any more should not be tolerated, period-that goes for this as well.
So not only will this shut down websites, but also other websites that link to that websites? Good lord, if this bill does what it says it does, the entire Internet could be reduced to a glorified encyclopedia/communication device.
ReplyDeleteif this goes through then... SCREW THIS COUNTRY!!!!!! *slap myself* I gotta wake up from this nightmare.
ReplyDelete@ZAquanimus
ReplyDeleteYou may be right, and you probably are, but if you ignore your rights, they'll go away. We cannot rest on this. No it's not going anywhere now, but we have to make sure our politicians KNOW we don't like it. because if we stay silent, then someday it might.
@Flutterfan Aye, but the music industry will send hitmen/women after people making PMVs.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad, I mean at this point this is the third try so far to get the internet ban going, and every time it gets put down. And lets not forget what happens when Anonymous gets pissed, once they've gotten angry enough there really is no stopping them.
ReplyDeleteSo lets hope the warnings on the news are good enough to get them to think twice.
Sopa means soup in Spanish
ReplyDeleteIn the "land of the free" you could be put in prison for posting cartoon ponies on the internet. Think about that.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet this is further proof that the American government needs a total re-haul when it comes to the people who's running it. We need people of the new generation that understand that things have changed in our world and country.
ReplyDeletePeople like us, my brethren.
Thanks for posting this, Seth. Signed the petition and wrote a rather long letter in the submission box.
ReplyDeleteAs a foreign brony I can just sit here with ma thumbs up my ass and hope this thing blows down like California's ban 18+ games law, whats even worse I can't even comprehend how the USA brass thinks its OK and fair to ruin the internet for the whole world, and even though I have some bad blood with the USA I hold none of its residents in ill faith or wish bad upon them, and I know that even though they sometimes seem like it, not every US politician is bad crap insane and thinks of new ways of ruining fun for the whole world and policing it.
ReplyDeleteSo I call out to the reasonable people in Congress to stand up and shout "THIS BILL SHALL NOT PASS!!!"
And those were my 2 dinars, and to whoever thought up this crazy scheme SHOVE THEM DEEP INSIDE YOUR ASS!
The ACTA didn't pass; this won't either. It goes against the Constitution, so it will end up getting turned even if it passes.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason government can't do shit right and needs to be smaller. They can barely handle themselves, why should they be allowed to control the internet AT ALL?
ReplyDelete*sigh* Just more big government and control they try to force down our throat.
I really want to leave this country, but at the same time, I don't want to give up on it and let it go down the shitter.
ReplyDeleteY'know, I'd go so far as to call these kinds of things terrorism. All these pushes to destroy the internet (even though I highly, highly doubt any of them will ever go through) always keep me on edge.
ReplyDeleteAm I overreacting, perhaps?
"People shouldn't be afraid of their governments; Governments should be afraid of their people" ~V for Vendetta
ReplyDeleteThis also concerns us Canadians, and the world as well. With all the fan created content that comes from this series, all would be considered "illegal." All of these artists would feel bummed out, and lack any more inspiration to draw, or do anything. It is impossible for a bill this retarded to pass.
@Jebin Zedalu
ReplyDeleteNope. This is as close to what terrorism has become nowadays as I've seen it get. I'm sure everyone is upset with his, maybe not certain people, but I'm sure anyone who knows anything about the internet knows this can't be allowed to happen
If I am correct, this is based around DNS blacklisting. We can work around this pretty easily. If you are outside the United States then you can post your DNS server (which should come as an IP address). If you are in the United States, you can set your computer up to use these alternate DNS servers instead. The more DNS servers you find and keep, the harder a task this method of censorship becomes.
ReplyDeleteYou can also save off the IP address of any of the sites you want to keep visiting. With this information we can just connect to the IP address instead of relying on DNS.
From a technical standpoint, this is no blockade, we just have to be quick about getting our workarounds set up.
I move to banish this act to the moon?
ReplyDeleteSigned!
ReplyDeleteWhat we need is less Hollywood, Disney and the Music Industry. The government could probably run fine without those giant monsters breathing down their spines and dangling gold doubloon bribes in the governments faces. This is all hollywoods fault.
ReplyDeleteA) Does anyone bother to fully read the bill?
ReplyDeleteB) Unless someone is actively infringing on Fair Use, both that law and the First Amendment prevent such violent censorship.
And past that, the bill is not CENSORSHIP, but PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. It's the same fuss everyone and their mother on deviantArt makes about art theft, just at a Congressional level.
And to put a proverbial cherry on top, the property owners (As Flutterfan said) would have to give two rips about it. Everything gone now would be gone, everything that currently remains would remain.
http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/pelosi/?akid=1028.87767.ZJ3qlv&rd=1&t=1
ReplyDeleteThere is hope, comrades. Nancy Pelosi, the Dems leader, has come out against it, meaning possible intra-party reprisals within the Democratic party against those for SOPA. Also, there are a large number of Republicans against SOPA as well, including Darrell Issa.
This will go down in history as the only time I agree with Darrell Issa.
@ Jake Smith
ReplyDeleteThat probably won't help, unfortunately. I've been signing petition after petition the last few months, and I do agree that this is just stupid. Hopefully they'll finaly realize how much more damage it would do then how much it might save. That's my piece.
When the United States wants to implement regulated censoring strategies like those used in China and Iran, you KNOW it's pretty ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteIt's likely that this will blow over as a blatant violation of freedom of expression and unnecessary micromanagement until the next bill, but I'm still bothered that these propositions are actually created.
This wont pass, or if it does somehow, it won't last very long. Seriously this is messed up and will change the internet expirience for the worse. It's ridiculous! And it's obvious the govenment will abuse their power and practically sue everything they set their eyes on.
ReplyDeleteI'm splitting off and forming my own internet.
ReplyDeleteI just don´t think they will do something like this AT ALL. I mean, to shut down copyright related contend is to shut down the internet itself! Down with this malefic event!
ReplyDeleteSounds like something a commie would do.
ReplyDeleteI hate commies...
Beware the man who withholds information from you... For in his mind, he dreams himself your master.
ReplyDeleteBrother Lal of the Peacekeepers
whos ready for an international pony mob? :D
ReplyDeleteAw HAY no.
ReplyDeleteI belive there will be alot who will want this to happen, but then when ALL the sites are under the control even the ones the "yes voters" go to then they too will be up in arms about it. This Bill wont pass, beacuse it is litarly polical suiside. The UK wanted to do something simular, and it NEVER got off the idea board beacuse NO goverment offical wants to be the one who flicks the Internet Kill switch and become public enermy number 1. It wont happen.
ReplyDeleteYoutube, Facebook, Twiiter? 3 of the VERY sights that said goverment officals USE to communicate?? Thats like takeing a gun and shooting your self in the leg, just incase someone else did it. They wont, its pointless and it can not be enforced.
@ZAquanimusyou can never be to careful.
ReplyDeleteIt very scary stuff this could stop fan works, art, livestreams, pmv, everything unless its official from Hasbro/hub and is on something they approve of. This even ends fan sites like this one. Guys this is something to defiantly consider. -TOM (midnight Run livestream)
ReplyDeleteHaving actually read the thing, as well as the existing laws it references, I see this as much ado about nothing. For example, the segment on streaming? Applies ONLY IF you, specifically, are doing one of three things:
ReplyDeleteStreaming for financial or commercial gain,
Streaming material intended for commercial use IF it has not yet been released by its copyright owner,
Streaming content which, AT RETAIL, would cost in excess of $1000. This is aggregate over a six-month period --- but I defy anyone to show me how you could spend $1000 on the entirety of the My Little Pony tapes and DVDs in existence to date.
So no, this will not affect PMVs one little bit. For the record, however, there is ALREADY criminal law on the books which affects "transmission" of copyrighted works, and it's actually tougher than the above set of standards.
While SOPA is expressly including streamed content in what amounts to a revision of the existing law, it is also actually loosening the standards regarding what cannot be transmitted.
This is why I need to go ahead and takeover Greenland to start my Empire
ReplyDelete*Facehoof* They can't win.. It's the internet.. No one can control or win over the internet.
ReplyDeletei dont mean to be insencitvy but the terrorists are starting to look like the good guys
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the US government trying to sink its hands into places it shouldn't. So what else is new?
ReplyDeleteIt's not the government's job to enforce IP, it's the duty of the IP holder to enforce their own copyrights. This is something cooked up from the MPAA, RIAA, and other media industry lobbyists to try to clamp down on piracy, but what it will actually do is kill the internet.
ReplyDeleteThis is serious stuff, and well worth writing a pen and paper letter to your congress critter about.
SOPA? Sera de mierda! Como que ponerle censura al Internet.
ReplyDeleteEsto es prueba contundente de algo: Los bronys ya somos un peligro al gobierno, por lo que ahora piensan censurarnos o regularnos.
Eso si que es una SOPA aguada, echada a perder y tirada al escusado.
I'm disabled to the extent where I can't work. In order to keep myself sane I write fan fiction, do a review show where I review fanfics, watch videos online, make Friendship is Magic demotivationals (I go by CrossoverPrincess on deviantart to those who want to see them) and other things. My life is practically the internet. This is the second site that I'm a regular on at that brought this up (the first being that guy with the glasses) and when you guys brought it up I knew it had to be a very big deal.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't they do something actually useful, like saving animals or contribute to reduce world's starvation...?
ReplyDeletewe should take the internet blow it up and rebuild it somewhere else with millions of proxys
ReplyDeletehas anypony forgotten about the power of Anonymous and /b/? Hopefully they will do what they do best and try to take care of the issue. It's not like they haven't done these things before.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to go on a huge rant about this. But it is ridiculous and absurd how they're trying to silence everyone on the entirety of the internet. It sounds like an injustice to freedom of speech to me. I haven't really been keeping track of the bill. But I hope it doesn't get passed. You can be sure it would piss off a whole lot of people of course.
ReplyDelete@Flutterfan
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Who makes stuff like this? (Or even thinks up stuff like this)
ReplyDeleteWithout the internet to keep my violent tendencies distracted, I may end up becoming a lawyer! Or worse... a bureaucrat! (But seriously not all lawyers and or bureascrats are evil, only where I live they most likely are.)
Remember what happened with the Prohibition? That only made people drink a lot more and it really didn't stop the consumption of alcohol.
I'm ashamed to admit that this bill is originating from MY country.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to live on this planet anymore.
Anyone got a portal to Equestria operational yet?
I want to sign it, but I don't live in the US (and clicking 'i don't live in the us' doesn't seem to do anything). Regardless, this bill is absolutely the dumbest thing, how on earth would you enforce it? Not to mention the hugest backlash. Seems like it's made by people whou'd prefer we enjoy our entertainment as it was in the 50's.
ReplyDeleteI live in the UK, it takes months/years for US shows to arrive here, the internet is so necessary, including for mlp episodes.
I'll do anything to sign something to let congressmen know how utterly insane this all is.
Their stupidity/corporate greed has worldwide consequences.
@DiscordMane
ReplyDeleteMafalda tenÃa razon, la sopa es un asco...
Another perfect example of an out of control government wishing to revoke more of our personal liberties.
ReplyDeleteSigned. Shared. We will fight this.
If the bill is signed, wouldn't it decrease the American economy more?
ReplyDelete@ApolloBrony
ReplyDelete/b/ was crying with his head in it's ass last night, i was there
at least the deepnet will remain...
They'd have to be idiots to pass this. And Obama promised to remain net-neutral. We're counting on politicians being intelligent and honest.
ReplyDeleteWe're boned.
Obama has promised to veto this, so I wouldn't worry too much.
ReplyDeleteStill, good for everyone to get their voices out there and let their local congress-heads know how you feel about it.
@Vanner
ReplyDeleteExcept there are already two kinds of copyright law: criminal and civil. Government cannot instigate a civil case on someone else's behalf, but it has always had the authority to investigate and pursue copyright violations of a criminal nature. So no, this is nothing new.
You're a day late in posting this, silly.
ReplyDeletethey may take our lives, but they may never take!
ReplyDeleteOUR PONIES!!!
If this passes, I say we all sue for violation of our first amendment rights. Not only does restricting the internet obviously go against Freedom of Speech, it goes against Freedom of the Press (I mean, EQD is the #1 source of pony-related news). This bill is unconstitutional in pretty much every concieveable respect.
ReplyDeleteI have wrote to the representative in congress in my state and signed several petitions. Now I am left praying this doesn't get passed.
ReplyDeleteYou know, if they had actually done this sooner (talkin' late 90's, early 00's), this actually might have stood a chance of passing! You know, back in a time when the screams of thousands of common people could never be heard over the voice of one television anchorman-puppet.
ReplyDeleteI like to think of that time period as "The Dark Ages."
@Juan there is no money in it. They're getting poo-loads of money from copyright-holding corporations and other groups like the RIAA and MPAA to push this bill through. Also, I live in Oregon, so I know at least one of our Senators (Ron Wyden) is opposing this bill. And boy am I glad.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it will pass.
ReplyDeleteToday it doesn't matter what you are, an earth pony, unicorn or Pegasus, I can't promise that this will succeed but I swear to and almighty God, that if this passes, I will be the first to step onto the battlefield and be last to step off, and I will leave NO PONY behind, dead or alive we will all go to Equestria together, so help me God
ReplyDelete@ Travis Smith
ReplyDeleteHere here! Right behind you!
@DJponthree
ReplyDeleteProbably.
Not like they'll realize that, though.
Woah. This could stop fanwork all together, not to mention EQD could be blocked! I hate feeling almost powerless in this, the only power I feel like I have is the President promising to veto this. So I have to rely on honesty of politicians now.
ReplyDeleteWe're all fucked.
So my parents stance on this is that if it wasn't on the TV its fake. Now I'm apparently ignorant because my sources didn't come straight from a TV. It's nice to know my parents cant form their own opinion without the media telling them what to believe.
ReplyDeleteAll these politicians are Parasprites!
ReplyDeleteI personally think that this won't pass. There'd be to big of an uproar, people would go crazy, honestly I think that there'd would be some riots (people have found worse reasons to start riots.)
ReplyDelete@Travis Smith Same here!
ReplyDelete@mcpaterson
ReplyDeleteHey! Your parents sound perfect for a job in Congress supporting bills like these!
My point being: There are hundred of politicians who are just like that
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was surfing the net one day, and I came across this bill.
ReplyDeleteIt would take away rights of people on the internet.
"Man, this bill is stupid!"
SO I THREW IT ON THE GROUND!
Then signed the petition against it. :P
I find it kinda funny that a bill like this, which is clearly for the corporations and by the corporations, is even legitimately considered by congress right in the middle of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
ReplyDelete*On my soapbox*
ReplyDeleteCitizens would adapt their way around any form of censorship. Remember the days of bootleg music CDs or even bootleg cassette tapes? Yeah. These days we have USB key fobs - cheap ones - in the 4 Gig range. Heck, we have personal Wifi routers. Then there is PGP encrypted email and/or sneakernet (passing along encrypted bootleg DvDs by hand). Informal Wifi pony parties ... problem solved. Too many smart people like ponies and sharing. We would be irrepressible and unstoppable.
The Internet is an interesting genie. It's not ever going back into the bottle. Prohibition never works. They would practically have to take away people's computers and their cell phones.
Even then, imagine the cops chasing down some guy clutching a clandestine Fluttershy pic ... run, dude, run!! :)
Not gonna happen. But the forces of idiotic darkness are always willing to give it a go.
I can understand that the entertainment industry's suffering: they've been hurting more and more as the internet has grown. But; they can't blame the internet for their problems. The very nature of information has changed. Entertainment industries used to sell us entertainment in solid form; now what they sell is disembodied from matter and indistinguishable from culture; you can't sell people culture: and information moves too fast; it's ethereal.
ReplyDeleteAs sad as it may be, the entertainment industry's just not profitable anymore. Like a species of animal going extinct, the environment changed around them and they couldn't adapt. Following their passive capitalist nature, they could have branched out and sold other things, but unfortunately, it seems the industry chose to take and authoritarian way out: to try to force the world to be the way it was when they were doing well. Essentially, it’s like a fruit vendor thinking “Hey, no one likes this type of fruit anymore: I should make a law that forces people to buy it from me and eat it against their will”
Anyway, one day, the industry will die or move on to better things, and that will be sad: but hopefully, this bill will drift by like the loose piece of trash that it is, and we will have the glorious internet to entertain us.
…Actually, I hope Studio Ghibli survives… they’re awesome and I’d always see their movies.
lets blast congress with friendship and the elements of harmony...maybe, just maybe...there will be some unity....if not lets get the goddess to assimilate them all...
ReplyDeleteThis again?
ReplyDelete@Nyx
ReplyDeleteIt's that damned spy again...
Another act of freedom? o.O
ReplyDeleteThis is why people who think the Internet is a "series of tubes" should not be allowed to legislate it.
ReplyDeleteI've spoken to many of the artists who contribute to this site, and to the fandom in general. This bill weighs heavily on their hearts and minds. I'd like to thank everyone here for giving them at least the small solace that they are not alone in this fight.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks to Sethisto for devoting some time to cover it. As a journalists, it's our job to expose the truth and create a better world. You have taken another step to insuring that world.
guys, they already presented it to congress and it DIDNT get passed... silly fillies.
ReplyDeleteAPPLEJACK FOR PRESIDENT!
ReplyDeletei want to see this pass, just so people can see what kind of mistake it will be. i predict assassination attempts on anyone who is for this, if it does pass
ReplyDeleteThis is the sickest thing I've seen in a very long time. The whole concept of Copyright is vague and impossible to fully enforce because no government cannot control the things that one thinks. They think they will be able to support creativity by doing this, but in reality, I belive it will crush it harder than anything else.
ReplyDeleteGuys, it simply cannot pass. Just think about the sheer hatred that will be directed towards America because of that, the removal of social networks alone will cause total anarchy.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is even a petition being made to appeal to President Obama in order to veto the whole thing if these idiots somehow believe they will solve anything by causing such an uprising.
It won't happen, and if it somehow does, amidst all the chaos, no one will be able to censure absolutely everything on the Internet. It's impossible, simple as that.
@TidalWave Really? If you don't mind me asking, could you site the source? I'm just the type of person who doesn't believe something until I see it :).
ReplyDeleteOh man! This bill is basically the Death Note for the internet! Letting this thing pass will be like handing the world's most dangerous gun to a fool.
ReplyDeleteAnd the first ones to get shot would be the ones who gave him the gun. The greater fools.
@Mint Chip What? I was being serious this time...
ReplyDeleteAs a Canadian I could just point and laugh, but I'm sure this will have repercussions if it does get passed. The question is, how much can the U.S. government do before it starts being censorship? Any site hosted in the U.S. is the extent of their influence. Doing anything more would be totalitarianism.
ReplyDelete@TidalWave
ReplyDeleteReally?!?
Could we have a link to proof, perhaps? If true, I'd be glad it was over with.
FUCKIN GOVERNMENT
ReplyDeleteFUCK
@Mattatatta
ReplyDeleteThey think I'm insane now. My dad just told me he knows whats going on because he is older than me. He sent a message to Chuck Fleischmann telling him to support it. Not only that but he's getting all of his friends to send messages to congressmen to have them support it too.
SOPA is ███████████ and █████ ████ ██████ ████, █████ █████ ███. ██████ ████████ for the ███. ██████, █████████ is not ███████ to ██████! █████?
ReplyDeleteFUCK. I swear we need new younger people with fresh ideas in office. I dont care, REP, or DEM. JUST NEW PEOPLE DAMNIT. This bill could put a whole bunch of website owners in JAIL. WTF?!?!?! Can't they find something better to do like idk, get rid of illegal aliens or something?
ReplyDeleteSorry, lost all my peace and love there...
ReplyDeleteIt's more entertaining to have a broken internet than a fixed internet.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm understanding this law correctly it seems like the main purpose is to stop websites that pirate movies/music/etc that are based in countries that don't have strict copyright laws.
ReplyDeleteLet's say someone in Country X is streaming The Avengers (the new movie) on opening night. Marve is understandably upset. Marvel can't sue them or take them down because Country X doesn't care about copyrights so there's nothing they can do.
So they want this law to pass so they can go to the US Government and the US Government can tell ISP block this website from Country X so none of your customers can access it.
On the face of it it doesn't seem THAT unreasonable but the problem is that the law is so broad it can be used to do other things, like blocking a website that's leaking government secrets.
I dropped a line to my representative in the House, just a quick three lines stating not to support this bill or others like it that may follow. It took a minute to figure out what district I was in so I knew who to email. If you care enough to leave angry comments in EQD then please take a moment to leave a polite note to your rep (cussin' them out won't help). Remember, even if you didn't vote for them they are still your rep and should listen to you.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't know who you rep is, just go here:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
...and enter your ZIP+4 and it'll tell you.
Also: CANTERLOT VOICE LUNA IS BEST PONY.
Just because some of you think it wont pass doesn't mean we can let our guard down. We need to fight against any attempt by the Government to take away freedom, this bill (SOPA) needs to be stopped.
ReplyDelete@Mattatatta
ReplyDeleteSorry forgot to mention that my dad researched it and said he believed it only because he agreed with it. I don't know how that makes sense in hi's mind considering the fact he just said it wasn't true because he didn't see it on TV.
@Lemonite
ReplyDeleteThere are hundreds of bills every month that never reach the light of day, staying within the bowels of congress as they pass between committees, go to review committees get revised and such.
Often these bills don't have enough people supporting them (i.e. adding their own agenda as decoration) to even reach the supervising committee that reviews all bills before presenting them to the congress floor.
It just so happens that word of this one got out.
If this bill passes, the internet will have nothing left on it, since it's all just copyrighted material anyway...it'll be a ghost town with everyone resorting to using private invite only sites.
ReplyDeleteBronies, Don't do the online sign up. Write a letter and mail it to Your Representative, The Politicians respond to a hundred letters that they do a million Online signatures. Just write a small letter and have your brony and non brony friends write your Representatives in the house. the more people that write in the more they see that HR 3261 is a very bad bill. Use both it's given name and it's designation, it adds credence to your arguments, and most importantly Spell out the ramifications of this bill not only go geek culture at large but, american culture.
ReplyDeleteI'll get off the soapbox now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zNuRco1SAU&feature=related <--- This
ReplyDelete