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| − | The '''Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)''' (also known as the [[E-PARASITE Act]], House Bill 3261, or H.R. 3261) is a bill demanded by the one percent who are big supporters of the [[Republican Party]] and [[Romney]]'s election efforts. The bill is also supported by many Democrats. If passed, this bill would impose a number of controversial measures for dealing with online piracy including the distribution of copyrighted material via the [[internet]]. The Attorney General would be able to close down websites that infringe copyrights, and ban the site from online payment mechanisms such as [[PayPal]] and [[Visa]]. He could also prohibit the sites' online advertising, and disable [[Google]] from ranking and linking to infringing sites. | + | The '''Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)''' (also known as the [[E-PARASITE Act]], House Bill 3261, or H.R. 3261) is a bill demanded by [[Hollywood]] [[liberals]] who are big supporters of the [[Democrat Party]] and [[Obama]]'s reelection efforts. If passed, this bill would impose a number of controversial measures for dealing with online piracy including the distribution of copyrighted material via the [[internet]]. The Attorney General would be able to close down websites that infringe copyrights, and ban the site from online payment mechanisms such as [[PayPal]] and [[Visa]]. He could also prohibit the sites' online advertising, and disable [[Google]] from ranking and linking to infringing sites. |
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| − | The corresponding Senate bill, deceptively named by [[Democrat]] leadership as the [[PROTECT IP Act]], is being pushed through the [[Democratic]] Senate by [[Harry Reid]] (D-NV), who was relected in 2010. SOPA was introduced by a [[Republican]] in the House, Judiciary Committee Chair [[Lamar Smith]] (R-TX).<ref>http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/112%20HR%203261.pdf (emphasis added)</ref> | + | The corresponding Senate bill, deceptively named by [[Democrat]] leadership as the [[PROTECT IP Act]], is being pushed through the [[Democratic]] Senate by [[Harry Reid]] (D-NV), whom liberals helped reelect in 2010. SOPA was introduced by a liberal [[Republican]] in the House, Judiciary Committee Chair [[Lamar Smith]] (R-TX).<ref>http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/112%20HR%203261.pdf (emphasis added)</ref> |
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| | Former Democratic Senator [[Chris Dodd]] -- now chairman of the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] -- is a leading advocate of the bill and criticized the website blackout that occurred on Jan. 18 as a "gimmick":<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/18/chris-dodd-sopa-blackout-is-an-abuse-of-power/</ref> | | Former Democratic Senator [[Chris Dodd]] -- now chairman of the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] -- is a leading advocate of the bill and criticized the website blackout that occurred on Jan. 18 as a "gimmick":<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/18/chris-dodd-sopa-blackout-is-an-abuse-of-power/</ref> |
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| | Proponents of the bill claim that it exists to protect the intellectual properties, and revenue of copyright holders, and is necessary to enforce copyright laws in the US. However, opponents state that it violates the [[First Amendment]], that it will cripple and ultimately destroy the [[Internet]], and will threaten online free speech. Some critics have likened this bill to China's [[Great Firewall]]. | | Proponents of the bill claim that it exists to protect the intellectual properties, and revenue of copyright holders, and is necessary to enforce copyright laws in the US. However, opponents state that it violates the [[First Amendment]], that it will cripple and ultimately destroy the [[Internet]], and will threaten online free speech. Some critics have likened this bill to China's [[Great Firewall]]. |
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| − | Those supporting the bill include [[television]] and [[music]] companies (and their trade group, the Recording Industry Association of America), whilst critics include liberal organizations [[Google]], [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], [[Wikipedia]], [[Yahoo!]], and [[Mozilla]], the creators of [[Firefox]]. | + | Those supporting the bill include [[television]] and [[music]] companies (and their trade group, the Recording Industry Association of America), whilst critics include [[Google]], [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], [[Wikipedia]], [[Yahoo!]], and [[Mozilla]], the creators of [[Firefox]]. |
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| − | The [[Obama Administration]] released a statement which read, in part, "we will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet. Any effort to combat online piracy must guard against the risk of online censorship of lawful activity and must not inhibit innovation by our dynamic businesses large and small."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/14/obama-administration-responds-we-people-petitions-sopa-and-online-piracy]</ref> The administration has also released a statement implying that it will veto the legislation should it reach the president's desk. | + | The [[Obama Administration]] released a statement which read, in part, "we will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet. Any effort to combat online piracy must guard against the risk of online censorship of lawful activity and must not inhibit innovation by our dynamic businesses large and small."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/14/obama-administration-responds-we-people-petitions-sopa-and-online-piracy]</ref> In political terms, such a statement means that the politician may sign the bad bill but then claim it does not harm anything. The administration has also released a statement implying that it will veto the legislation should it reach the president's desk. |
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| | ==External links== | | ==External links== |