Today I sit here at my desk, just one cog in the wheel, working hard to help support creators and marketers of intellectual property - the culture of our society. I am saddened by the theives that believe music, movies and literature should be free - and so just take it. I am saddened by the enemy - the tech industry that is willing to totally destroy American culture and its creators so that they may fatten their wallets. This morning I read this article in the Wall Street Journal. What was particularly upsetting to me were the reader comments.
America has long been a world leader in its protection of authors and inventors. Copyright has been the underlying foundation of that protection. Now I read more this morning about the power brokers that want to destroy that system and the thieves and fools who are buying into it.
The latest battle is over the proposed legislation known as SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act). This bill strengthens the enforcement of copyright protection by requring internet providers to assist in the battle by banning pirate websites, etc. That is a very light treatment of the subject and there are definitely some problems with SOPA - such as a big due process issue. However, the tech industries are telling the public this is a ban on freedom of speech. If you want to read more about SOPA and the war against creators and their industries just google SOPA - oh - and when you go to google you will find a black banner. Click on it and you will see Google's diatribe about SOPA. If you want to read more about the position of those who support the fight against the pirates the visit the website of Fight Online Theft.
Life / the internet would be terrible if SOPA passes. People pirate for convenience, not because they are bad people. www.HumanFankind.com is proof that there are good people out there, and not to change anything!!!
Posted by: Jerry | January 18, 2012 at 01:07 PM
Thank you for your comment Jerry. From my reading and understanding of the Act there is no threat to the internet nor freedom of speech. All of that is protected. As a matter of fact, the legislation was modified and changed at the request of the large tech companies (the same ones who had the black-out day). The real objections had nothing to do with those who want to steal the works of the creators. The campaign agains SOPA was led by large tech companies (big business) because they did not want to have to go to the expense of telling copyright owners the names of the pirates. If someone broke into your home because it was more convenient than buying what they stole from you the police would be able to get dna hopefully and you would have a chance to recover your goods. SOPA is about requiring internet companies to let the authorities and the content owners know the identities (the "dna") of internet pirates and to assist in stopping the illegal activities. That's all. By the way - how is it any more convenient to steal a digital copy of a movie than it is to purchase a legal copy? And if it is more convenient, since when is that a defense to any criminal or civil offense?
Posted by: Steve Weaver | January 21, 2012 at 09:04 AM
That was an incredible response Steve, I have no rebuttal.. you made some great points. Better ones than I've read in other full articles.
Posted by: Jerry | January 31, 2012 at 09:23 AM