Difference between revisions of "Stop Online Piracy Act"
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The '''Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)''' (also known as House Bill 3261 or H.R. 3261) is a bill that proposes a number controversial measures for dealing with online piracy including the distribution of copyrighted material via the [[internet]]. It was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on October 26, 2011, by House Judiciary Committee Chair [[Lamar Smith]] (R-TX). If passed, this bill would give the United States law enforcement and copyright holders greater control to fight Internet [[piracy]] (copyright infringement). 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 House Bill 3261 or H.R. 3261) is a bill that proposes a number controversial measures for dealing with online piracy including the distribution of copyrighted material via the [[internet]]. It was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on October 26, 2011, by House Judiciary Committee Chair [[Lamar Smith]] (R-TX). If passed, this bill would give the United States law enforcement and copyright holders greater control to fight Internet [[piracy]] (copyright infringement). 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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| + | 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]]. | ||
Those supporting the bill include [[television]] and [[music]] companies whilst critics include [[Google]], [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], [[Wikipedia]], Yahoo!, and Mozilla, the creators of [[Firefox]]. | Those supporting the bill include [[television]] and [[music]] companies whilst critics include [[Google]], [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], [[Wikipedia]], Yahoo!, and Mozilla, the creators of [[Firefox]]. | ||
Revision as of 22:02, January 17, 2012
The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) (also known as House Bill 3261 or H.R. 3261) is a bill that proposes a number controversial measures for dealing with online piracy including the distribution of copyrighted material via the internet. It was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on October 26, 2011, by House Judiciary Committee Chair Lamar Smith (R-TX). If passed, this bill would give the United States law enforcement and copyright holders greater control to fight Internet piracy (copyright infringement). 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.
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.
Those supporting the bill include television and music companies whilst critics include Google, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, Yahoo!, and Mozilla, the creators of Firefox.